State level Convention on Climate Change, False Solutions and Indigenous Peoples Rights in Manipur
10th November, 2014:
Convention on Climate Change, False Solutions and Indigenous Peoples Rights in Manipur on 10 Nov, 2014
The State level Convention on Climate Change, False Solutions and
Indigenous Peoples Rights in Manipur, was organized by Centre for
Research and Advocacy, Manipur at Manipur Press Club on 10 November
2014.
Ms. Maibam Nganbileima, Lamphel Yaipha Leikai eviction victim, Mr.
Mani Khuman, President, All Manipur United Clubs Organization graced
as presidium members.
Mr. Jiten Yumnam, Secretary, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur
in his key note highlighted the context of deepening climate crisis in
Manipur and how aggressive introduction of large scale development
projects in Manipur, such as mega dams, oil exploration, creation of
industrial zones and other large infrastructure projects such as Road
and Railways infrastructure with financing by International Financial
Institutions led to violation of indigenous peoples rights in Manipur
by destroying their forest, water and land.
Mr. Phulindro Konsam, Chairman, Committee on Human Rights shared how
development decisions and processes, such as new MoUs on mega dams are
pursued against the aspirations of indigenous peoples of Manipur. Mega
development projects are often anti people, destroyed their forest,
water, agriculture land etc and involves human rights violations. All
development processes should respect indigenous peoples self
determined rights and their right to free, prior and informed consent.
Mr. Achom Brojen of Kongba and Mr. Nahakpam Ibochouba of Langthabal
shared the concerns and the failure of the Asian Development Bank
loaned Imphal Ring Road plan to consult and take the free, prior and
informed consent of affected communities and to take detailed impact
assessment due to such large projects. Mr. Gopen, Irabot Foundation
elucidated how current day forcible development that benefit
multinational corporations with their forced acquisition of
agriculture land will undermine food sovereignty of Manipur.
Convention on Climate Change, False Solutions and Indigenous Peoples Rights in Manipur on 10 Nov, 2014
Mr. Oinam Rajen, Secretary, All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen Union
spoke how the commissioning of the 105 MW submerged more than 80,000
acres of prime agriculture land and contributed in deepening climate
crisis and how the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation remains
unaccountable in Manipur, failing to rehabilitate and compensate those
affected by their Loktak Project. Fishing communities were also
evicted from Loktak Wetlands by the promulgation of the Manipur Loktak
Lake Protection Act, 2006.
Dr. RK Ranjan, Senior environmentalist shared indigenous peoples have
intrinsic relationship with our land and resources. Development
processes in Manipur are often insensitive to the cultures, traditions
and rights of indigenous peoples. Today, Manipur is unpredictable in
its climate manifestations due to such insensitivities. Manipur is now
forced to depend on outside for its food needs as a result of loss of
agriculture land.
Dr. Y. Mani Khuman, President, AMUCO shared how introduction of
development process is bereft of peoples participation and how such
unsustainable development models contributed in climate crisis.
There’s much inconsistence with the conduct of the Government which
talks of protecting agriculture land while conscripting agriculture
land for corporatization and privatization of our land and resources.
Ms. Nganbileima Maibam shared on the fast shrinking wetlands and
climate change implications and how communities depending on the
wetlands are forcibly and mercilessly evicted.
The participants also adopted the following resolutions:
1) Express concern with worsening climate changes in Manipur, frequent
flood, drought, species loss etc and impact on indigenous peoples’
cultures, traditions and their survival.
2) Expresses concern with aggressive pursuance of development
processes, especially large scale mega development processes in
Manipur with serious climate change implications, viz, mega dams, oil
exploration and drilling, etc, which destroyed peoples’ land, forest,
wetlands etc.
3) Concerned with Government of Manipur’s MoU’s with corporate bodies
for mega dams and to drill oil and gas in Manipur. The colossal forest
area submergence of these mega dams, including 27,000 hectares, by the
planned 1500 MW Tipaimukh dam etc will aggravate climate crisis.
4) Express concern with the increased agriculture land grabbing by
mega projects such as the Film Institute, Sports University, Trans
Asian Highway and railway etc. Loss of Agriculture land will deepen
climate crisis and undermine food sovereignty of Manipur.
5) Concern with increased investment of International Financial
Institutions, viz, Asian Development Bank for mega infrastructure
projects such as Imphal Town Ring Road without detailed impact
assessment, option assessment and consent of communities.
6) Further concerned with the Manipur State Action Plan on Climate
Change that prioritized false solutions to climate change, such as
mega dams and REDD+ that will lead to negative impacts on indigenous
peoples. All MoUs on Mega dams should be revoked and policies that
facilitate such projects, viz, the Manipur Hydro Power Policy, 2012
and Manipur State Action Plan on Climate Change etc should be
repealed.
7) The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation should cease all
efforts to seek carbon credits and additional profits from the Clean
Development Mechanism by classifying the controversial 105 MW Loktak
Project in Manipur as clean and renewable energy project.
8) Express concern with the non recognition of indigenous peoples
rights in forging out appropriate solutions in really mitigating
climate change and in adapting to climate crisis.
9) There should be moratorium on large scale destructive unsustainable
development projects in Manipur, primarily mega dams’ construction,
oil exploration, large infrastructure projects, which will destroy our
forest, wetlands, agriculture land etc. Review Mapithel dam
construction.
10) Alternative energies, indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge
and practices such as diversified agriculture; community-based
adaptation etc should be promoted in Manipur.
11) The upcoming climate change negotiations in 20 COP at Lima Peru
should ensure recognition of indigenous peoples self determined rights
and development. The emphasis accorded on Private sector financing as
solution to climate crisis in International climate negotiations
should end urgently.
12) The process of tackling global climate change has unfortunately
been considered as an opportunity for economic benefits. Climate
crisis cannot be resolved within the framework of “market solutions.”
States should abandon all false solutions to climate changes that
negate Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
(Sanaton Laishram)
President
Centre For Research And Advocacy Manipur
Sega Road, Hodam Leirak Imphal Manipur 795001
e-add: cra(dot)manipur(at)gmail(dot)com
* This PR was sent to e-pao.net by Centre For Research And Advocacy Manipur who can be contacted at cra(dot)manipur(at)gmail(dot)com
This Press Release was posted on November 11 2014
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