CRAM highlights crisis in state at UN session
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 29 2025:
Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRAM) secretary attended 24th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII) held from April 21 to 30 at the UN HQ, New York, USA.
A press release issued by CRA, Manipur informed that its secretary Jiten Yumnam represented the organisation during discussions on agenda item 4, "Discussion on six mandated areas of the PFII" and item 5 (g) "Thematic dialogue on the financing of Indigenous Peoples' work & participation across the multilateral system (Discussion on Mining of Critical Minerals)".
Intervening under agenda item 4, Jiten Yumnam drew the attention of the PFII to the humanitarian crisis and conflict in Manipur and the adverse impact on women and children of different communities in Manipur.
He stressed that the conflict situation warrants urgent need to protect the lives and rights of the indigenous peoples of Manipur.
"The pursuance of emergency laws, namely AFSPA 1958, militarisation and infringement on people's rights is serious concern in Manipur," he said.
Jiten Yumnam highlighted the Indigenous Peoples' concerns to creation of "Biosphere Reserve" and expansion of Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary under UNESCO's "Man & Biosphere framework" in areas under Tamenglong district along with oil exploration plan.
The push for oil palm cultivation in Manipur will worsen environmental impacts, he added.
Jiten Yumnam urged upon the PFII to recommend the Government of India to protect the lives and rights of indigenous peoples of Manipur and to stop targeting indigenous women and children in conflict; to rehabilitate and resettle indigenous communities affected by conflict in Manipur and to foster peace building and reconciliation among indigenous peoples at an urgent basis; dismantle the creation of buffer zones in Manipur and to repeal emergency laws, such as AFSPA, 1958 that undermine indigenous rights in North East India; recognise the rights of indigenous human rights defenders and ensure their protection; and consider indigenous peoples' call to desist creation of "Biosphere reserve" & Zeilad wildlife and to rescind plans for oil exploration in Tamenglong, Manipur and to take indigenous peoples consent.
Intervening under Agenda 5(g), Jiten stated that Manipur and across North East India is testament to the adverse impacts due to mining, viz, forced eviction, violence on women, contamination of rivers, deforestation, conflict, militarisation and unaccountability of mining corporations.
New mining concessions are conceded to mining companies to mine Chromium, Limestone, and Copper in Manipur sans consent of peoples, he maintained, appealing to revoke MoUs for mining and unsustainable energy, fossil fuel in Manipur.
Jiten Yumnam further urged PFII to urge the government to ensure that any financing in Indigenous Peoples land, including extractives uphold indigenous values, human rights and consent; corporations and international financial institutions (IFIs) should desist from financing critical minerals mining and other unsustainable projects in indigenous land that can worsen social, environment, human rights impacts; strengthen accountability mechanisms for accountability of the corporate bodies, IFIs, private sector involved in financing extractives in Indigenous Peoples land; IFIs & Corporations should desist from supporting false climate solutions, viz, dams, oil exploration in Manipur and across North East India.
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