FIRM condemns land acquisition move at Makhan
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 11 2024: Forum for Indigenous Rights Manipur (FIRM) has alleged forcible land acquisition plan of the state government at Makhan village, Kangpokpi district for stationing an Army unit.

Stating that the government has not consulted Makhan tribal villages concerned as is necessary, FIRM president Jajo Themson asserted that Makhan village general body assembly held on March 29 univocally resolved never to part with the 130 acres of land of Makhan which the government is eyeing to acquire through all means.

The assembly out-rightly rejected the land acquisition plan as land of the same village had been already affected and shrunk due to acquisition of land for different projects such as 83 acres in the 1980s for settlement of army, 301 acres for Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), for theological .college establishment, and Liangmai Literature Society.

The pressurising trend of land acquisition to this village poses a serious threat to future survival of the villagers, it maintained.

FIRM asserted that the cabinet decision on February 15 was an arbitrary move which undermined the customary land rights of the Liangmai Naga tribal community.

The proposed acquisition of 130 acres of land at Makhan village without any consultation with the villagers concerned is in violation of the protection enshrined in the Section 3 of United Nations Declaration of Rights of the Indigenous People (UNDRIP), 2007 undermining their right to self-determination and Section 19 the right of seeking Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) of the indigenous people, it emphasised.

FIRM further urged the government to retract from its cabinet decision for land acquisition at Makhan village and also appealed to duly recognise and respect the inherent rights of the indigenous people over their land and resources.

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