FIRM observes International River's Day
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 16 2024:
The Forum for Indigenous Rights Manipur (FIRM) celebrated the International River's Day/ International Day of Action for Rivers at Rajaimai village portion of Barak River in Senapati district on March 14, 2024 .
According to a release issued by Jajo Themson, president FIRM, a number of resolutions were taken during the observance such as - To let the Barak River flow free, Protect Barak River's ecology, Retain heritage of Barak River and oppose construction of 67 MW Khongnem-Chakha Dam over Barak River.
At the event, Shimthar Jajo and Mothel Saka emphatically expressed details of how the Mapithel dam of Thoubal Multipurpose Project affected the lives of the indigenous communities.
They claimed that the project not only destroyed Thoubal River/Yangwuikong and its natural ecosystem but also caused gross disruption of livelihood, dilution of culture, downgraded economy, disintegration of villages and sowed an element of distrust among the inter & intra affected villagers.
Dr Paode, president of Tribal Knowledge Foundation (TKF) Senapati and founding member of FIRM said that among the natural resources, water is the most precious gift of God to human beings.
He also asserted that any development plan like dam projects at the cost of indigenous land, river, forest and resources threaten the very existence and survival of the communities.
"As such, proper consultation and consent of the communities is mandatory where safety of the indigenous people lies", he added.
Jajo Themson shared that rivers constitute everything for the indigenous communities in terms of day to day sustenance and unbreakable chain of historical, customary, social, economical, agriculture and survival power of the communities.
He also highlighted the status of rivers as laid down under the Universal Declaration of Rivers Rights (UDRR), September 29, 2017 by the Earth Law Centre (ELC) New York, which provided rivers' legal entity as human beings with five fundamental rights.
He also expressed serious concern about the factors for deterioration of rivers like depletion of forest in the catchment areas, unregulated dumping of plastic waste materials, commercialisation of river resources, chemical inflow, use of explosives, power equipment in fishing like electric generator, dynamo, etc.
"In any plan of river based projects like dams, rights of the indigenous people enshrined in the United Nations Declaration of Rights of the Indigenous People (UNDRIP) 2007 should be respected", said Jajo Themson while terming building of dam projects as the most threatening factor to river and its ecosystem.
Th Kashing, former chairman of Willong Village, Village Authorities, youth and women representatives from Rajaimai, Bendramai, Bakie, Willong Khullen, Willong Khunou, Kamalong, Yang Khullen, Ze-xlamyi and Pundunlung also took part in the event.