Boycott of AH-1 expansion to continue, says IHRA
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, July 12 2021:
The International Human Rights Association Manipur (IHRA) reaffirmed its boycott over the ongoing construction and up-gradation of Asian Highway No 1 under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway in Tengnoupal district.
Mark Thangmang Haokip, president International Human Rights Association Manipur and Co-ordinator Myanmar, stated that IHRA would not halt its boycott over the ongoing construction work of AH-1 until a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the IHRA, Asian Development Bank, and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highway.
He recalled that the association had on February 12, 2021, officially declared a boycott over the construction and up-gradation of AH-1 after two month-long investigation with the help of Asian Development Bank and the RTU.
It has been 149-days since the boycott began and any positive engagement from the Government to solve the imbroglio has not been seen, rather the implementing agency, the State Government and the District Administration have made several attempts to destroy the intervention of the human rights body through some conspiracies, he added.
"One IRB personnel had also been arrested and detained in police custody, then suspended from his service only because his family members took part in the agitation demanding fair compensation while other protesting villagers were also threatened and arrested apart from detaining without proper reason", he alleged.
Meanwhile, the IHRA also strongly condemned the alleged misapprehension made by the Manipur government, NHIDCL, and Asian Highway Land Affected Chairmen/Chiefs Association that there shall be no compensation of land in regards to the 1963 land survey while adding that the publication made on the matter in newspapers was misleading.
Mark Thangmang Haokip also alleged that the members of the Asian Highway affected association and the implementing agency, who are making such press statements, are equally involved in mismanaging the funds for compensation to the affected landowners while adding that they carried out such an agreement to hide the crime they had committed.
He further said that the said association does not represent the affected landowners and alleged that it is a fake committee created by those responsible persons who had caused the mismanagement of compensation money.
The IHRA Manipur is ready to work towards bringing an amicable solution to the imbroglio by signing a MoU between IHRA Manipur, ADB, and Ministry of Road Transport & Highway as soon as possible, he added.