Radio Mogadishu

Rivalries Rise

February 26^th, 2011.

By Bazinga

Radio Mogadishu

The moderated caucas’ that took place during the Summit on Indigenous People’s debate on Friday rose from calm debates to heated disputes as tempers rose. Although the topic of the debate was the Millennium Development Goals, a few of the delegates seemed determined to not put in any effort whatsoever to finding a solution for indigenous peoples not only in their own countries, but all over the world.

            During the debate, China stated that “China does not have any indigenous peoples”, which caused quite a ruckus in the council- even the assistant dais took a noticeable reaction.  The council then responded to this statement with the idea that China should not be in this UN council for indigenous peoples. China later added that “China knows who our indigenous people are”, which contradicts China’s earlier statement.

           

            Russia on the other hand, recognizes its indigenous peoples, but only as people who are “already helped”, and need no more help. Russia also added and emphasized that Russia’s indigenous population is only 2%, so there must not be any point in helping them any further. Russia did not recognize the indigenous peoples of the world as in need of help, and was only focusing on Russia’s problems. Russia later rebutted the delegate representing the Cree people of Canada’s expression of the problems and hardships of the Cree people by saying the “Russia has nothing to do with Canadian indigenous peoples, why should we help them”.

           

            The IIED responded to Russia and China’s arguments by calling them “arrogant” because they are not addressing indigenous people of the world and they don’t have their facts straight about their own countries. China responded to this accusation of being arrogant by turning to France, in a feeblish attempt at accusing France so as to make China look better. China said to France, “France has enslaved and colonized indigenous peoples so that makes them hypocrites. You still have colonies all over the world”. France responded with the fact that France cannot change what their ancestors did, and that the colonies in today’s world do not cause harm. The IIED then asked China, “How can you, state of China, point fingers at France, when you have enslaved thousands and thousands of Tibetans.” China did not have any comment worthy of regaining its reputation.

           

            The IIED stated that “China, Russia, and Iran have neglected the rights of their indigenous people”, and in a later interview with France, the IIED, and the Lubricon Cree during unmoderated caucus, I found that all three countries were attacking Russia, Iran, and China because those countries were ignoring the situation of world indigenous people, because they have ‘little indigenous people in their own country[s]’. Russia and China have also signed the declaration of right for indigenous peoples, but have done nothing to support the declarations.

            I am hoping that Russia and China will step up their game, and realize that selfishness, arrogance, and obnoxiousness will not help to mobilize and initiate the Millennium Developmental Goals, and that all countries in the Summit on Indigenous Peoples council will unite under one developmental idea, and create a solution for indigenous suffering worldwide.