Halflong, Assam, India, 31 March 2007

Federation of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Asia has been established for building self-rule network. The federation was formed by the participants and delegates of the South Asia Regional Indigenous Peoples’ Training on Conflict Resolution and Peace Building Capacities held from 24-31 March 2007 at Guwahati and Haflong, Assam, India organized by Indian Confederation of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples – North East Zone (ICITP-NEZ), member organisations, associated indigenous peoples’ organizations and CORE Manipur supported by allies cooperated. The training was organized in Shilpgram of Guwahati from 24-31 March and in North Hill Council, Halfloong, Assam from 30-31 March 2007. There were more than 100 participants from 68 indigenous peoples\' organizations with their indigenous leaders from all the 7 sister states of North East Zone of India - Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Arunanchal, Mizoram and Jharkhand and delegates from Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Berma. Chandra Sinkgh Kulung, General Secretary of Kirat Welfare Soceity had also taken part in the training as a delegate from Nepal.

The event was characterised by culturally affirming camaraderie, sharing of resources and exchange of experiences among communities, many of whom are still embroiled in on-going hostilities and mutual suspicions, that emphasized the multifarious contours of conflict in the region, and the recognition of peace as not just a goal but a pathway to be familiarly trod by everyone together and founded on the power of dialogue, listening to each other, inclusion, consultation, consent, empathy, fraternity and love. Indigenous delegates committed themselves and declared their resolve through the DECLARATION OF SOUTH ASIA REGIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ ON CONFLICT AND PEACE at the closing function attended by over 7000 indigenous persons representing all communities in the remote town of Haflong, capital of the North Cachar (NC) Hills District of Assam in India. The closing function was also attended by Prithibi Majhi, Minister of Assam (Planning & Development, Labour & Employment and Tea Tribes) and Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of India who announced a Rupees 7.5 million purse for the conflict torn NC Hills District.

The Haflong Declaration is also particularly significant in the context of the formation of an Indigenous Peoples’ self-governing alliance in Asia – the FEDERATION OF INDIGENOUS & TRIBAL PEOPLES IN ASIA (FIPTA) and the establishment of the ASIAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ SOLIDARITY FUND which will be administered by FIPTA for regional and international advocacy, and capacity sharing activities of the Asian indigenous peoples.