North East Watch

Press Release, August 05, 2008

The Hmar Students’ Association (HSA) finds the erroneous decision of the Government of Manipur to militarise Tipaimukh as most unfortunate. The recently resolved decision for mass deployment of Central and State security forces and opening of Security Posts at seven kilometre intervals along the 99 km stretch of Mon Bahadur road in Manipur for movement of materials required for the construction of the controversial Tipaimukh Mega Dam will only result in suppressing the rights and dignity of the Hmar indigenous peoples and their ancestral land. This has heralded one of our worst fears in connection with the proposed Tipaimukh Dam.

The decision of the State authorities only reflects the half-baked attempts of the Government of Manipur to uplift socio-economic conditions of the decades of neglected and marginalised Tipaimukh. The proposed militarization and the methods employed to forcibly construct a Mega Dam in Tipaimukh is an unjust act perpetuated both by the State and Central government. What and where is democracy when the State is always the first actor to employ force?

The HSA is also dismayed over the continuous attempt of the Government of Manipur and NEEPCO to build the proposed Mega Dam project despite the absence of any clearances from the indigenous peoples in Tipaimukh. The act is contempt to our rights as human.

The HSA strongly oppose any such unwarranted trampling on the rights and land of the Hmar indigenous people without their consent. The State government should immediately shun its imposed and undemocratic policy of shoving projects in the name of development that would destabilize and destroy the lives, land, people, culture, and future of the indigenous peoples.

The HSA does not believe in militarizing any development projects as is the case with the controversial Tipaimukh Hydro Electric Project, which is yet to have the indigenous peoples’ mandate. In fact, Point No.12 of the representation submitted by the Hmar Students’ Association to the Chairman & Managing Director of NEEPCO (through the Power Commissioner, Govt. of Manipur) on March 17, 2003 on the issue of “Engagement of Security Force for the Project” stated that, “The heavy militarization in project site will not augur peace and development, instead, it will definitely have a seriously impact on their culture and custom and also leads to massive human rights violation.”

Moreover, the often claimed 1500 MW of electric power that the Tipaimukh Dam will generate is the maximum capacity to be produced by 6 turbines of 250 MW each. Only 2 (two) turbines (250x 2) will be used at all times and the others will be on stand-by. The 12 percent ‘free power’ Manipur and Mizoram will get is not 12 percent out of the 1500 MW but 12 percent out of 425 MW firm generating capacity of the project.

The people of Tipaimukh and its adjoining areas prefer to see their SDOs, SDPOs, Doctors, Teachers and other departments’ staffs in their respective offices in the sub-divisional headquarters and not in Churachandpur town or in Imphal. The HSA finds it ridiculous that the State government thinks that it is far more important to send massive security cover to protect NEEPCO officials, contractors and their labourers rather than addressing the unabated plights of the deprived indigenous peoples of Tipaimukh.

The HSA demands the State Government to immediately revoke its decision to militarise Tipaimukh in the name of development.

Sd/-

(LALTHLAMUANA HMAR)
General Secretary
Hmar Students’ Association
General Headquarters