Protest meet held at Riha
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 08 2016:
Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organization (MDAVO) and Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRAM) organized a protest meet against commissioning of Mapithel dam at Riha village as part of the two-day commemoration of International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples yesterday.
The protest meet was attended by village representatives affected by Mapithel dam, said a statement.
Women leaders of Riha, Chadong and Thoyee villages also took part at the protest meet.
Riha village headman Wungreisung said that villagers find difficult to sustain on the limited land after most of their lands and forests had submerged in water.
Thoyee village headman Ng Khathing said that the Government must be held responsible for the destruction of land, forest and water sources in Mapiihel hill and valley.
The Government's refusal to listen and act on the rightful demands of affected communities indicates that Mapithel dam is unjust and there is lack of democratic practices, he said.
Naga Women Union ex-president Aram Pamei shared how the Government has violated indigenous people's rights over their land and resources and undermined their right to free, prior and informed consent.
Jiten Yumnam of CRAM said that the Government has been planning to inaugurate the dam although other commissioned mega dams have failed to serve any purpose.
Mapithel dam will only unleash hardship to affected communities, he said.
Committee of Human Rights chairman Phulindro Konsam spoke on how the Government of Manipur and India continue to violate indigenous people's human rights.
The recommendations of the former UN Special Rapporteur James Anaya to respect the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous people and to end militarization in Mapithel dam has not been implemented by Government of India, he said.
The participants resolved to reject the plan of the Government of Manipur to commission Mapithel dam, stand united and resist all plans to commission the dam, urge upon the Government of Manipur to let Thoubal river flow free by releasing all wafers from Mapithel dam reservoir.