Imphal, June 11: Digging at the Government of Manipur for alleged suppression of the voices of the affected people of Mapithel Dam of the Thoubal Multipurpose Project and the controversial Tipaimukh Dam, the Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), South sector, has asserted that the policy of Manipur Government amounts to subjugating the democratic and legitimate voices of the affected people.

NPMHR convenor S Phamhring said that the Government of Manipur, in the name of taking up of the developmental projects, has stepped up without any substantive means to "re-address subsequent consequences".

Terming the attitude of the State Government as callous, the NPMHR said that the Government has clearly exposed time and again its anti-people programmes and cited the construction activities of Mapithel Dam of the Thoubal Multipurpose Project and proposed Tipaimukh Mega Dam Project "despite a persistent opposition demanding throughout review of the entire project".

"The recent move to acquire inhabited land for another so called grand developmental projects including University expansion, airport expansion programmes, National Information Technology, etc without taking people's free, prior and informed consent and confidence are but bullying programmes by the Government of Manipur," accused the NPMHR.

Recalling other instances, the NPMHR said, " The Government of Manipur has but a zero policy for all those imposed displaced persons due to such unplanned developmental programmes including Loktak Hydro Project.

And yet the Government of Manipur has no policy or law of rehabilitation and resettlement, rather it has for brute used of military forces against their own citizens.

Many commitments or agreements signed between the affected villagers/people are dishonoured and treated as tools to propel their hidden agenda".

The NPMHR, South Sector then stated that the Government of Manipur is yet to come out of the cocoon and see the world around, when the UN Member States and indigenous people are putting their extra afford to reconcile with their painful histories and resolved to move forward together on the path of human rights, justice and development for all," pointed out the statement of the rights body.

''Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights reiterates its demands for total review of the Mapithel Dam (Thoubal Multipurpose) Project, halting of Tipaimukh Mega Dam Project and the Government takes people into confidence with a principled commitment for the promotion and protection of human rights and withdrawal of military personnel station at indigenous peoples' territories, admitting and correcting the historical blundered committed by the Government," said the statement "NPMHR urges upon Government of Manipur to urgently advance the work of integrating the rights of indigenous peoples over land, and resources and the rights to collectively self determined development agenda, as well as policies and programmes" the statement added.

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