Oil Exploration: CPNRM dares Govt threat
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 29 2012: The Committee on Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur (CPNRM) has contended that the three public hearings organized by Manipur Pollution Control Board, Government of Manipur at Jiribam, Parbung and Nungba Town on July 30, August 8 and August 17 respectively for petroleum exploration, drilling and allied activities in Jiribam, Churachandpur and Tamenglong were complete failure as the indigenous communities to be affected by Petroleum Exploration in Manipur expressed strong objections to petroleum exploration and drilling by Jubiliant Oil and Gas Private Limited, (JOGPL) a company based in Netherlands.

In a statement, CPNRM conveyed its gratitude to all communities for expressing their voices against petroleum exploration in Manipur and reiterated its condemnation over the efforts of the Government of Manipur and its Police Department for filing First Information Report (FIR) against the communities for protesting against the public hearing held at Nungba on August 17 .

"There are serious violations and immense points of condemnations in inviting communities for environmental Public Hearing and later threatening them with arbitrary arrest and detention for expressing their rightful opinions.

The filing of FIR only indicates that the Government of India, Govt of Manipur and the profit mongering JOGPL only insists on undemocratic and militaristic forms of development.

Introduction of forcible means of development and relying on police and military to subdue the peoples voice will only infuriate the communities to resort to all means of possibilities to defend their land and resources and to stop all petroleum exploration", CPNRM said in a statement signed by its Convenor Pamei Tingenlung.

As the communities fully expressed their opposition to the public hearings against Oil Exploration and drilling and allied activities in Manipur, the Government and Jubilant Energy should respect the wishes, sentiments and desire of the people to protect and defend their land for their present and coming generations and immediately halt all process for oil exploration and drilling and allied activities in Manipur, the statement demanded.

The Government of Manipur, JOGPL and the Government of India should abide by the official written declaration at the Nungba Public Hearing to cancel public hearing future public hearing on petroleum exploration for block 1& 2 once and for all in Manipur, the statement said.

The Committee also reiterated its opposition to signing of Production Sharing Contracts, Petroleum Exploration License Agreements between the Government of India, JOGPL and the Government of Manipur in 2010 without the knowledge and consent of indigenous peoples of Manipur.

CPNRM will oppose any move of the Government to sell any resources and land of Manipur to any profit mongering groups, the statement made it clear, adding that CPNRM would like to call upon the Government of India, Government of Manipur and the Jubiliant Energy to Stop all Oil and Gas Exploration, Drilling and allied activities in Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Jiribam in Manipur and also to Immediately withdraw the FIR and other cases lodged against communities attending the Nungba Public Hearing on 17th August 2012, failing which will invite stern mass communities actions from all communities for which the government of Manipur and India will be solely held responsible for any untoward incidents.

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