Imphal, August 09 2009: A two day long observation of the International Day of World Indigenous People 2009 organized jointly by Young Horizon North East India and Civil Society Women Organisation, Meghalaya kicked off at conference hall of the Yalana Hotel, Laitukhrak, Shillong in Meghalaya today.

The inaugural function of the observation was attended by John F Kharshing, chairman of the Society for Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge and Practice, Binanta Gogoi, former ambassador to Italy and Kiran Kumar Gogoi, president of the Young Horizon, North East India as chief guest, guest of honour and president of the function respectively.

On the occasion, chief guest john F Kharshing read out the UN General Assembly declaration August 9 as International Year of World Indigenous People on this day in 1994 .

After 25 years on September 13, 2007, the United Nation Declaration on the rights of the Indigenous People was made published by the UN Assembly for safeguarding and protecting the land, resource, culture and tradition of indigenous people.

The two days were very important for the indigenous people the chief guest said adding 143 countries of the world voted in favour of the UN Declaration but four countries, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and United States voted against the declaration.

11 countries were absent in the voting.

He also appealed to the gathering, to effort jointly to know the problems facing by the indigenous people living in the state under the declaration citing that indigenous people here are facing many problems.

Bellbora, publicity secretary, Civil Society Women Organisation, Meghalaya gave well comer note of the observation function before the chief guest address gathering while chief convener, Mutum Churamani gave the key note address of the observation and on the theme of this year's observation-Indigenous people and HIV/AIDS.

Ksh Basanta talked on the impact of the dreaded disease given to the indigenous people living in the north eastern India.

The Young Horizon, North East India observed the day for the second time this year.

The body observed the day last year at Bhagat Singh Youth Hostel Agartala.

An account of the International Day of the Indigenous People and the coming of Young Horizon, North East India was also read out on the occasion Chief convener, while giving key not address of the observation function said expressed the degrading feature of the indigenous people settling in the north eastern region of the country by the intrusion of the people from outside the states with reference to the losing of socio-economic condition of the indigenous people.

He also expressed the need for uniting together the indigenous people of the region and fight for the protection of their social, culture and tradition.

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