World Indigenous Peoples Day : 09th August 2019

Imphal, 08th August 2019

On the occasion of the World Indigenous Peoples Day, 9 August 2019, the Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRA) urges the Government of India to recognize and advance indigenous peoples inherent rights as outlined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 (UNDRIP).

CRA is concerned that the Indigenous peoples land in Manipur has increasingly been targeted & usurped for unsustainable projects, such as Mapithel dam, 105 MW Loktak Project, Khuga dam, oil exploration, Trans-Asian Roads & Railway etc and associated militarization.

These projects pursued amidst India’s Act East policy, many with financing from Asian Development Bank, World Bank and other financial institutions often failed to recognize indigenous peoples self-determined rights over their land and resources, violated their right to free, prior and informed consent and caused environment harm, impoverishment of indigenous peoples and hindered realization of sustainable development goals.

Introduction of these unsustainable projects, dams, oil exploration, infrastructure projects in Manipur, apart from social and environment impacts, will also undermine indigenous demography in the state, with reliance on non-indigenous peoples for such works.

CRA is concerned that that the Citizenship Amendment Bill may be re-imposed across India’s North East to undermine the indigenous demography in the region and hence should not be imposed without the consent of indigenous peoples of NE region.

Policies like the North East Hydrocarbon Vision, 2030, the draft Indian Forest Policy, 2018, the draft Indian Forest Act, 2019, etc introduced since adoption of Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, failed to recognize indigenous rights over their land, forest, resources and will facilitate the corporatization of management of indigenous land, forest and other resources, whom they depend for their livelihood.

The CRA expresses our concern with continued imposition of emergency laws, like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA) despite the recommendations of UN Human Rights bodies to repeal AFSPA, 1958 that undermined fundamental rights, viz, the Right to Life and right to Justice remedy.

The recent amendment to the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 (UAPA) would further permit the infringement of individual freedom and liberty of indigenous peoples and to target human rights and community organizations.

CRA would like to urge upon the Government of India and Manipur to ensure the rightful participation of all indigenous peoples of Manipur in formulating policies affecting their lives, land and future, and further to repeal AFSPA, 1958 and to review the amended version of UAPA Act in 2019 to ensure its compliance to international human rights laws and UNDRIP, 2007.

A participatory process in governance rooted in rightful participation of indigenous peoples in policy formulations affecting their land, resources can contribute in fostering long term peace, stability and development in Manipur.

Upholding the principle of recognition and respect of self-determined rights over their land, territories and resources as outlined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 would be inherent to foster a more sustainable, accountable and peaceful society for indigenous peoples in Manipur.

Sanaton Laishram
President
Centre For Research And Advocacy, Manipur
Jupiter Yambem Centre,
Paona Bazar,
Imphal
Manipur
India 795001