The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Monday urged the State and Central governments to withdraw security forces from Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) affected areas and to not impose the project without consent of local communities.
Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, former MP and former APCC president Takam Sanjoy said development cannot be built on fear and intimidation.
“Development cannot be built on fear, intimidation and the erosion of indigenous rights. The people of Siang must have the final say over their land, rivers and future,” Sanjoy said.
He said the APCC is not against development but the government must answer what kind of development is being pursued, at whose cost and with whose consent. Questions raised by people cannot be answered with police deployment and arrests, he said.
Sanjoy said the issue of SUMP is now about democratic consent, indigenous rights and public trust. He cautioned that confrontation between administration and villagers in Siang and Upper Siang districts could affect peace if coercive measures continue instead of dialogue.
Recalling Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s tribal Panchsheel, he said tribal communities should be allowed to develop according to their own genius and their culture, customary institutions and aspirations must be respected.
Referring to history of the project, Sanjoy said survey activities for around 3750 MW Siang project were pursued during 2013-15 and objections were raised then by Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF), farmers and landowners. He said apprehensions are not new.
He also said strategic arguments linked to the proposed dam on Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet must be assessed technically but cannot be used to disregard rights of affected people.
Expressing concern over reports of deployment of paramilitary forces, detention of activists and suspension of Gaon Burahs and government employees, Sanjoy demanded release of four detained Adi activists – Adum Tayom, Omak Paron, Okut Paloh and Oson Paron – and fair review of cases against them, including under Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014.
He also demanded transparent inquiry into the Rs 7350-crore Special Development and Livelihood Package, alleging that benefits were being linked to support for the project. He said public money must not be used to purchase silence or manufacture consent.
The APCC placed 13 demands including immediate withdrawal of forces, withdrawal of FIRs against protesters, revocation of suspension orders against GBs and employees, suspension of disbursement under the package till guidelines and beneficiary lists are made public, written undertaking from government and NHPC that construction will not proceed without consent, suspension of Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) activities till trust is restored, independent review of consultation process, scrutiny of MoUs, protection of Kebang system and customary institutions, high-level dialogue with stakeholders, independent assessment of social and environmental impact and protection of indigenous rights and ancestral land.
Sanjoy said APCC president Bosiram Siram will lead a delegation to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and Governor seeking urgent intervention.
He said the Congress will continue to stand with the affected people and pursue the matter through democratic and constitutional means.