AHRC takes up case of dam affected people
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 01 2012: The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has taken serious note over the concern expressed by the Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organisation and the Committee on the Protection of Natural Resources that the villagers of Riha, Thawai, Lamlai Khullen, Chadong along the Thoubal River in Ukhrul district, Manipur are likely to be evicted by force to complete the construction of the Mapithel Dam, which is part of the Thoubal Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project.

In a message to the Government of India, AHRC requested to immediately stop the activities of the illegally constituted JVT and let the ERC be convened and allowed to fulfil its mandate and review Mapithel Dam construction with a more informed understanding of the project's impact upon the lives of indigenous communities living along the Thoubal River and stop Mapithel dam construction till completion of such reviews.

The message also urged that the ERC on Mapithel dam formed on 18 January 2008 should be revived and resumed since it is the legitimate wish of all the villagers affected by Mapithel dam with full reference for implementation of the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; the notifications by the Government of Manipur dated 28 September 2012 and the Cabinet Memorandum dated 24 September 2011 for Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Mapithel Dam affected villagers be revoked immediately; Implement the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples, Mr.James Anaya on Mapithel Dam, especially to seek and obtain the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples for any decision on Mapithel dam construction and stop militarisation in the region.

Moreover, there should be no forcible eviction and relocation of all communities affected by Mapithel Dam without their free, prior and informed consent as outlined in international covenants that India is party to, the Recommendations of the World Commission on Dams for review of the ongoing dam construction for its compliance with human rights, development and indigenous peoples' rights and all the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples should be implemented.

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