Asked of Canada's Crackdown on Elsipogtog Fracking Protests, UN Indigenous Expert Anaya Cites Crisis; In USA, South Dakota as Symptom

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 21 -- Amid Canada's crackdown on Elsipogtog First Nation protesters of shale gas fracking, Inner City Press at the UN asked first the spokesperson for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on October 18, then UN indigenous rights rapporteur James Anaya on October 21.

Ban's spokesperson said he was aware of the "reports" of the crackdown, but had no comment. In a subsequent addition to the October 18 UN transcript, Ban praised natural gas. (Story and full quote here.)

On October 21 when Anaya held a press conference, he answered Inner City Press that he had just been in Canada, and cited a "crisis" there. He also praised some steps by the country, as he did of Nicaragua and, when asked by Inner City Press about South Dakota, the US. This is diplomacy.

Inner City Press asked, what can Elsipogtog First Nation do to put their treatment by the Canadian government on the radar of the UN? Anaya said he gets correspondence and looks into it, writes back and forth with governments.

  On the South Dakota case, the the-proposed sale of sacred land, ultimately the indigenous were able to raise money to buy the land themselves. Buy, Anaya said, it is symptomatic of land issues in the US not being resolved.

  "Ask the US about that," Anaya told Inner City Press. Well, Inner City Press has other questions already pending with the US Mission, about the UN support Congolese Army rape units, and US delaying of a visa to a diplomat from the State of Palestine.

Anaya was thanked by the Free UN Coalition for Access@FUNCA_info, which in pursuing greater transparency by the UN system urges that hyperlinks be inserted in the type of reports that Anaya was citing on Monday. Anaya at least has a Twitter account or presence. FUNCA suggests that all special rapporteurs (and Special Representatives of the Secretary General) do the same, and be responsive and transparent.. Watch this site.

   

UN's Indigenous Expert Stymied in Russia, Does Not Engage in Myanmar, Will Visit Ecuador

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unhr1anaya101909.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 19 -- Russia blocked the UN's expert on the rights of indigenous people from visiting the site slated for the Evenki dam in Krasnoyarsk Territory, it emerged at the UN on Monday.

Inner City Press asked James Anaya, the UN's Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedom of indigenous people, if he had in fact been allowed to visit the site. The Russian press had quoted Igor Kurtushin, deputy head of the territorial administration’s department for external relations that "it would not be easy to visit the Evenki sites due to peculiar weather patterns."

Inner City Press asked if Anaya had visit the contested site, from which indigenous people would be evicted. No, he said, it wasn't in the agenda we were able to negotiate. Video here, from Minute 30:53.

Was this, in fact, due to the weather, Inner City Press followed up. "The weather was good was I was there," Anaya answered, describing two flights in Krasnoyarsk and an outdoor meal of reindeer parts. Video here, from Minute 36:29.

This can be contrasted to Panama, where the government allowed Anaya to visit the site of a proposed dam. When Inner City Press asked about Ecuador and conflicts there, Anaya said he is going in December, invited by the government.

To some, Anaya seems too accommodating of governments. When Inner City Press asked about Canada's refusal to sign on to the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People, Anaya said Canada is moving in the right direction, that he doesn't criticize countries if there is the "possibility" of movement.

Likewise, when Inner City Press asked about the position of Botswana that nearly all people there are indigenous, Anaya responded that he hadn't seen a need to contest this position during his recent visit there. Given that the position almost derailed the Declaration, it seems strange to some to be so accommodative of it now.

But it is to and within the UN system that Anaya is most accommodative. Inner City Press asked about the UN's REDD program, which was protested earlier this month. Anaya said that the UN agencies want to address indigenous issues. When Inner City Press asked about indigenous people in Myanmar, Anaya responded that since there is another rapporteur on Myanmar, he does not engage in Myanmar. Video here, from Minute 49:22.

First, this deference is not required: for example, the UN's expert on children and armed conflict engages with Myanmar, rather than deferring. Particularly given the issues that have arisen about the UN's special rapporteur on Myanmar, for Anaya to say he'll do nothing in or about the country ill-served indigenous people. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unhr1anaya101909.html