Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, SEPT 14:
The Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF) has condemned the state government’s deployment of security forces for conducting the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) survey for the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), terming the move “provocative, undemocratic and condemnable.”
Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here on Monday, SIFF spokesperson Tagori Mize said the project-affected families (PAFs) have strongly opposed the proposed project and had submitted relevant documents and representations to Adi Bane Kebang (ABK) president Tanom Tatak, seeking his intervention in pursuing their grievances with the state government.
Mize said the PAFs had placed two major demands before the ABK, including withdrawal of security forces from the villages and revocation of suspension orders issued against Gaon Buras in connection with the SUMP issue.
However, he alleged that the ABK had failed to communicate the grievances of the affected families to the state government or extend necessary support to the community.
Mize further claimed that differences and conflicts had emerged among villagers over the SUMP issue, resulting in law-and-order concerns in some areas, but alleged that neither the ABK nor the state government had taken adequate steps to address the situation.
Expressing displeasure over the alleged inaction of the ABK leadership, Mize demanded the “moral resignation” of ABK president Tanom Tatak, alleging that he had failed to safeguard the interests of the affected community.
The SIFF spokesperson also alleged that the deployment of security forces to facilitate the PFR survey amounted to a forceful approach by the government and could further aggravate tensions in the project-affected areas.
“The deployment of security forces for conducting the PFR is provocative and undemocratic. It reflects the failure of the government to convince the project-affected families,” Mize said.
The SIFF reiterated its opposition to what it termed forceful activities related to the proposed SUMP and urged the government to engage with the affected families through dialogue.
