Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, OCT 6:
The All Adi Youth Association (AAYA) Apex on Tuesday condemned the violence reported in the Siang belt amid protests against the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) exercise for the proposed 11,000-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) and demanded immediate withdrawal of the security forces deployed in the area.
Addressing the media at the Arunachal Press Club (APC) here, AAYA IPR Secretary Okut Tali alleged that the state government was adopting a “dictatorial” approach instead of initiating dialogue with the project-affected people.
Tali claimed that people from all 27 project-affected villages were opposing the proposed project, but instead of engaging with them, the government had deployed additional security forces in the area.
“In our tribal society, before making any major decision, we sit in a Kebang and hold discussions with local leaders. But no such talks have been held by the government. No one has approached the affected villages. Instead, numerous security personnel have been deployed,” Tali said.
He said the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) was not an appropriate way to resolve the issue and urged the government to withdraw the paramilitary and state police forces deployed in Siang and Upper Siang districts.
Tali further alleged that several gaon burahs and gaon buris had been suspended for participating in the protests, while FIRs had also been registered against several protesters.
“I appeal to the government and the administration to revoke the suspensions and withdraw the FIRs,” he said.
Responding to the government’s assertion that the proposed SUMP was linked to national security concerns, Tali said that if there was indeed a national security issue, the government should visit the affected villages and explain the matter directly to the people.
“If there actually is a national security concern, the government should come to the affected villages and explain it to us. No one has approached us so far,” he said.
On the government’s claims regarding agreements or Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed by affected villages consenting to the PFR exercise, Tali alleged that a majority of such documents did not reflect the actual position of the affected communities.
He claimed that the association had not witnessed genuine consent from the affected people and alleged that consultations were being conducted selectively through door-to-door campaigns and village-level meetings.
AAYA also questioned the government’s claim that a majority of project-affected people had accepted the SUMP, stating that several affected villages continued to oppose the project and the PFR exercise.
Tali said that if the project was being treated as a matter of national importance, the government should adopt a proper mechanism to create awareness among the affected people rather than suppressing their voices.
He appealed to the government to take immediate steps to restore peace in the Siang belt and initiate dialogue with community-based organisations.
“The Adi community is a peace-loving community. I appeal for peace to be restored and urge the government to sit with community-based organisations and arrive at an amicable solution,” Tali said.
AAYA also demanded the unconditional withdrawal of FIRs registered against protesters and revocation of the suspension orders against gaon burahs and gaon buris, stating that it would not compromise on what it described as forceful actions against the community.
