Manipur Government should avoid spreading misleading propaganda on Mt Koubru: IHRA
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, May 10 2021:
The International Human Rights Association has come out strongly against the declaration of Mt Koubru as a reserved forest by the State Government.
The IHRA Manipur president, Mark Thangmang Haokip said that there was no record of Reserve Forest in 1968 by the name 'KK Reserve Forest' and added that it is purely artificial and concocted with an eye on the General Assembly elections.
"The Manipur Government should not indulge in such sinister tactics and mislead the people as such kind of arbitrary action for deprivation of one's property or land is strictly not allowed under Article 17 Clause 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights", he asserted.
Mark Thangmang Haokip also stated that the Forest Department of Manipur must bear all responsibilities for issuing the artificial documents in public domain while cautioning that IHRA Manipur shall initiate befitting legal action if the Forest Department failed to withdraw the said declaration within one week.
Thangmag Haokip alleged that the actual intention of the Manipur Government over the declaration of Mt Koubru as reserve forest has two purposes.
Firstly, to use the fake reserve forest declaration in luring the innocent people of the valley and buy their trust for the upcoming elections, and secondly to mislead the tribal communities.
He further mentioned that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), 2007 forbids the occupation of land without the consent of the indigenous people and is clearly stated in the provision Article 26 clauses: (1) Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands, territories and resources which they have traditionally owned, occupied or other-wise used or acquired; (2) Indigenous peoples have the right to own, use, develop and control the lands, territories and resources that they possess by reason of traditional ownership or other traditional occupation or use, as well as those which they have otherwise acquired; (3) States shall give legal recognition and protection to these lands, territories and resources.
Such recognition shall be conducted with due respect to the customs, traditions and land tenure systems of the indigenous peoples concerned.
He stated that the direct imposition of Forest Act on Mt Koubru through arbitrary means without the consent of the indigenous tribal community is a grave violation of human rights.
Thangmag Haokip further mentioned that the IHRA would send a report to the Central Government over the matter.