Memo submitted against oil exploration
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, May 21 2013:
Twenty-four NGOs including student organizations and human rights defenders today submitted a representation to Chief Minister of Manipur O Ibobi Singh urging him to take steps to halt the ongoing oil exploration process and extraction works in the hill areas of the state.
Social organizations and student bodies such as the Zomi Council, Kuki Inpi, Zeliangrong Students' Union, All Tribal Students' Union Manipur, Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas Manipur, Naga Women Union, Hmar Youth Association and Naga People Movement for Human Rights say in the representation to the Chief Minister that the extraction of oil from the hill areas of Manipur has surprised and shocked the indigenous tribal people.
The memorandum says environmental degradation, uncompensated loss of property, severely diminished economic opportunities and increasing denial of human rights are some of the consequences the indigenous tribal people often face.
It alleges that the Governments were trying to exploit the natural resources bestowed on the tribal people without obtaining their free prior informed consent.
"We are seriously concerned about the denial of our agitations," it says.
The denial reflects the colour and attitudes of the state and the Central Governments towards the indigenous tribal people in India particularly towards the hill people of the state, they allege in the memorandum.
On the other hand, it says that it also undermines the peaceful means of protest and shows to the world that there is an absence of mechanism for the promoting and defending human rights in Manipur, it says and adds that in every democratic set up like in the United Kingdom and the United States vox populi is a sine qua non, meaning main thing while in India, the largest democratic republic country in the world had experienced the tragedy of Bhopal Gas leakage and explosion and justice has not been delivered to the victims till date.
It also says the collective NGOs including the student bodies and human rights defenders fervently request for prompt intervention and to take the matter in all its seriousness so as to comply with the principles of free, prior and informed consent.
The ongoing works for exploration and extraction of oils from the oil blocks in the hill areas by Jubilant Oil and Gas Pvt Ltd have violated the democratic norms and principles and hence the ongoing exploration and extraction works must be halted at all cost, the memorandum mentioned.