Convention on Climate Change held
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, November 10 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 here today.

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.

Convention on Climate Change held

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.

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..YMani 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.