NEWS 2009
July 2009 Demonstrating Against Mau Forest Evictions
24.07.2009 Ogiek Community Views to the Committee of experts on the Constitutional Review
31.07.2009 Ogiek People's Fate in Mau Forest Lies in Our Patrners and Friends intervention
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Ogiek Community Views to the Committee of experts on the Constitutional Review
On 24th July 2009, the Ogiek community presented a memorandum to the committee of experts on the constitutional review process. In summary:
SUMMARY OF OGIEK PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Ogiek People's Fate in Mau Forest Lies in Our Patrners and Friends intervention
Friday, July 31, 2009, 2:09 AM
Ogiek to be evicted too with other Forest Encroachers within the next few Days
The recent debate on Mau forest has taken a U-Turn when the President and the Prime Minister were quoted in Kisumu saying everyone living in Mau whether genuinly or ungenuinly will be removed to pave way for the conservation. The Task force report recommended the relocation of settlers in Mau without compensation. The PM said in his statement to the legislatures at the National Assembly on July 29th 2009 that the fate of the Ogiek shall be vetted later after the eviction exercise so as they may be allowed back to the forest. The Mau Forest Conservation should recognize the fact that Ogiek community in particular, has suffered historical injustices, for instance; Human Rights abuses and Forced Displacements from their ancestral lands. The two visits made to Kenya by both UN Special Rappotour Mr. Mikhail Konthari in 2004 and Prof. Staven Hagen in 2006 recommended that Ogiek community rights, value and interests be safeguarded as hunter gatherers of the great Mau forest Complex.
In reminder, Kenya is a signatory to various UN convections and several other international standards, some of which include; but are not limited to, the International Covenant on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the UNESCO Convention Against Discrimination in Education, the UNESCO Declaration Against Race and Racial Prejudice, and the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious or Linguistic Minorities adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 1992, the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 27).
By implementing the Mau Taskforce report in totality, it means that the Ogiek community whom issues were assumed and or overlooked in terms of land rights and human face will result to threat on fundamental freedom and constitutional rights as enshrined in the Bill of rights in the Kenyan Constitution and the Universal declaration on Human Rights.
Some of the loopholes identified in the report were; unidentified boundaries, no consultation with the Ogiek and free informed consent, lack of human face, no alternative land and no mode of compensation.
Ogiek community thus appeal for our partners and friends to rise up for solidarity and agitate for "Ogiek rights are in Mau Forest". Please write protesting letters and petitions to the Hon. President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya and Hon Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
For more information, do not hesitate to contact us..
Regards
Kiplangat Cheruyot
Human Rights Officer,
Ogiek Peoples Development Program (OPDP)
P.O Box 622, Narok, TEL: +254 722 984810 / +254 51 2213803
Email: africanogiek@ gmail.com, www.ogiek.org/
Nakuru Office: Nyamakoroto Hse, Biashara Street, 2nd Flr,Rm 210