Members of the Indigeneous People's Center for Policy and Human Rights in the North East write about violations of public hearing and other democratic processes and state violence against peaceful opposition of the Tipaimukh Project on the Barak River.

20 November 2006

Respected Mr. Prime Minister,

1.      We, the Manipur people’s Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Project with 26 constituent member civil society organisations, and allies, appeal to you as the democratically elected representative of the Indian Peoples to take proper cognizance and action to stop and prevent further denial of the peoples’ rights to participate in decisions of development initiatives that impact on our rights to life and livelihood.

2.      The decision and actions by the administration and executive in proceeding with its plans to implement the Tipaimukh dam project is in direct opposition to the unanimous, considered and informed expressed decision, since 1991, of the peoples to be directly impacted by its building. It constitutes an open rejection of the mandate governing your representation, the wishes of the people.  It has also frequently and consistently flouted all national and international norms, legally binding obligations and democratic processes of informed and participatory decision making in development. 

3.      The use of violence and threats of violence in this process in assuring exclusion of the peoples voices and peacefully expressed objections including in the so-called Public Hearing held in Churachandpur (Manipur) on 17 November 2006 are the prime and most recent, but hardly the only examples of this disregard.

4.      We are deeply dismayed that the Churachandpur Public Hearing was not “public” at all by any statutory and common law standard or practice. A handful of persons claiming to be Village Chiefs were ensconced in private in the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Churachandpur District while the public was denied entry as the DC had locked the gates and kept fully armed paramilitary force personnel to guard it.

5.      The use of excessive forces, including paramilitary (Indian Reserve Battalion) and Manipur police personnel at the Churachandpur Public Hearing is a direct and unnecessary provocation to peaceful citizens of the locality who had come facing great hardships to attend a statutory public hearing as required by law. Such provocation will only lead to totally undesirable confrontation and conflict between the public and law enforcement personnel in a peaceful development question of statutory process, with foreseeable loss of limb and lives of innocent villagers.

6.      The Chairpersons of 16 Village Authorities from project-affected Churachandpur District (Tingpui, Zeikulong, Dimjanglong, Thenjang, Kokadan, Rangdailong, Ramtan, Majuron, Kokadan Daron, Chaiba, Dimdonlong, Gilgai Colony, Digaijang, Ngairiyan, New Canaan and Dimthanlong  Villages) objecting to the project were arbitrarily denied access and input into the hearing process in either written or oral form even though they had traveled by bus from remote areas of the district specifically for this Public Hearing.

7.      Earlier, in 2003, when public objections were invited by the Government of Manipur after signing an MOU with the NEEPCO, 22 Village Authorities from project-affected Tamenglong District had also officially submitted their written objections to the proposed project. They are Rongdai (Bolongdai) Village Authority, Taijijang Village Authority, Khoupum Village Authority Board, Sibilong Village Authority, Puilon (Kambiron) Village Authority, Bwanruangh (Taodaijang) Village Authority, Longjon Village Authority, Tongtao Village Authority, Muktina Village Authority, Nungba Area Village Authority, Chramram Village Authority, Kekru Village Authority, Oinamlong Village Authority, Bamgaijang Village Authority, Sempang Village Authority, Tamenglong Village Authority, Punglam (Gwangram) Village Authority, Namtiram Village Authority, Duigailong Village Authority, Chingkao Village Authority, Vanchengphai Village Authority and Thiulon Village Authority.

8.      Leading civil society organisations, such as Committee Against Tipaimukh Dam (CATD), Naga Women’s Union, Manipur (NWUM), Zeliangrong Union (ZU), Centre for Organisation Research & Educations (CORE), Hmar Students’ Association (HSA), Environment Protection Committee, Chandel Naga People’s Organisation (CNPO), Mapithel Dam Affected Village Organisation, Dam Action Committee (DAC) – Churachandpur, Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM), United Naga Council (UNC), Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), and All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO), among others, have also objected to the project.

9.      In 2004, another Public Hearing for this project held in Mizoram had also returned an unequivocal rejection of the proposed project.

10.  The Public Hearing scheduled for 22 November 2006 at Tamenglong District HQ is also already compromised by the threat of use of force by the Deputy Commissioner who has prepared for this hearing with at least 200 additional heavily armed paramilitary personnel being brought in to guard his office during the process, as reliably learnt by us.  That this hearing is being held in the DC’s office rather than an appropriately public venue is another clear indication of intent to exclude the legitimate participation of the public and contradicts the very stated intent of a statutory public hearing.

11.  In the current on-going and critical climate of social, economic and political disenchantment of the North Eastern peoples and particularly of the peoples of Manipur with the development paradigm forcibly imposed on us and of the model of governance similarly imposed by fiat from the Central Government the repercussions are likely to be particularly severe. 

12.  Your planned laying of the foundation stone as widely reported in the local press and as stated by the Honorable Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri Okram Ibobi Singh, demonstrates intent to implement this project which has not yet been finally cleared by established legal and statutory requirements. Other activities furthering the implementation of this project which will certainly follow the laying of the foundation stone will undoubtedly incite and exacerbate strong and negative perceptions, and responses from the affected public. Our lives and livelihoods are unquestionably going to be rendered impossible to sustain should this implementation continue.

13.  We most earnestly and sincerely urge you, in the best interests of the peoples of Manipur and India , and of all our efforts towards peace and peaceful resolutions of differences:

a.      To reverse your decision to lay this foundation stone on the scheduled date during your imminent visit to Manipur as a first step to a serious reconsideration of this ill advised and destructive mega-project, taking into proper and respectful account the aspirations and concerns of the indigenous and local peoples of the state and the region.  

b.      To ensure that the notified Public Hearing scheduled in Tamenglong District HQ as per notification No. S.O. 60(E) dated 27/01/94 (as amended on 07/07/04), Ministry of Environment and Forests, GOI, New Delhi be held in a public venue and conducted in a non-threatening, free and fair manner.

Thanking you for your consideration and in anticipation of your positive response.