Joint statement honors indigenous knowledge holders

August 9 Mizzima. — Celebrations were held regionally to honor the International Day of the Indigenous Peoples, which falls on August 9, in the Salween Peace Park (SPP) and the Sao Sitha Oo Indigenous Park (TTIP) areas, according to a joint statement. The statement, issued on August 9, indicated that the ceremony primarily honored the traditional knowledge of indigenous people who have nurtured their social communities for generations, and pledged to pass on these cultural heritages to the next generation. It was also noted that as part of promoting the right to manage ancestral lands amidst the violent attacks by the military junta and the calamities of climate change, the "Pauk Khlo Indigenous Protected Area," the third such area, was approved and declared in April 2026. This action challenges Myanmar's legal system, which has denied indigenous rights for decades, and is considered a significant step towards building a future federal democratic union. Furthermore, the statement indicated that governance systems are being strengthened within the SPP and TTIP areas through the conduct of democratic elections, measurement of traditional boundaries, establishment of wildlife sanctuaries, and the undertaking of women-led biocultural research. The two organizations have also called for an immediate halt to acts of violence committed against ethnic minorities and the bombing of villages, farmlands, and homes. They have also urged the international community and interim governments to legally recognize and protect the rights of indigenous peoples in accordance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Editor: Aung Kyaw Phyo