Nagas against Mapithel dam
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 05 2015:
Irate Nagas today resolved to oppose any projects in their areas that breach the community's traditional laws and customs.
The declaration was taken under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC) after the State Government blocked a group of Nagas leaders at Chadong village in Ukhrul district from proceeding towards the construction site of the controversial Mapithel dam.
Against resuming construction of the dam, the Naga protesters were supposed to hold a peaceful and democratic protest there.
The dam construction undermines the concrete policy of resettlement and future survival of the affected villages and violates National and international laws, they said.
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To block the protestors from moving towards the dam site, the district administration also clamped prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC at the project areas.
Denouncing the Government's attitude, the protesters, besides announcing the declaration, also burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in front of a large number of police, who blocked them.
"We will oppose any projects taken up in our areas in "violation of Naga traditional laws and customs," said the declaration.
"Naga people welcome development but we will oppose any oppressive policies or programmes begin taken up without free and prior informed consent in Naga areas," said the declaration read out by UNC president Gaidon Kamei.
Stating that it was their legitimate rights to defend their history and ancestral homestead and rights of the people, the declaration also demanded that the blocked water bodies be released.
The declaration also renewed the UNC's growing demand for an Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur outside the State Government pending the Indo-Naga political settlement.
Mapithel dam affected villagers demanded a stop to construction of the project and other related works immediately until an amicable solution with them is inked.
On January 27, the dam affected people organized a public meeting at Chadong village in protest against the Government's move to evict them by blocking the Thoubal river and deploying a large number of State forces there.
Various Anti-dam lobbyists contended that construction of Mapithel dam , the erstwhile Thoubal river valley multipurpose project began in 1978 without free, prior and informed consent of the affected villagers in both the project's upstream and downstream areas.