A 3 day Festival of Indigenous Peoples in Thailand 2011, in honor of the International Day for World’s Indigenous Peoples, is being held in Chiangmai, 7-9 August.
It is participated by 36 ethnic groups including many of those familiar to Burma, a patron to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 13 September 2007: Karen, Khamu, Kachin, Ta-ang (Palaung), Hmong (Miao), Mien, Lisu, Lahu, Akha, Tai Kheun, Tai Leu, Tai Yai (Tai Long), Tai Yon and Mon.
The Festival, “Asserting Indigenous Peoples’ Lifestyle and Rights”, is being held at Suan Chalerm Phrakiat King Rama IX of the Chiangmai Provincial Administrative Organization, on the Chotana Chiangmai-Fang Road.
The Thai government and non-governmental organizations had already observed the International Day of World Indigenous Peoples in 2007.
Burma, officially the land of 135 indigenous races, has yet to observe the event.
According to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, all indigenous peoples have the right to self determination (Article 3) and states must consult and cooperate with them “to obtain their free and informed consent prior to the approval of any project affecting resources” (Article 32-2) and “provide effective mechanisms for just and fair redress for any such activities” (Article 32-3).
