Earthquake and Mega-Dams in Arunachal Pradesh: Is our Survival on the threshold?

The Honolulu Workshop, May 1978 identifies Northeast India as one of the six most earthquake prone zone. The other five being Mexico, Taiwan, California, Japan and Turkey. Northeast Region fall in the Zone V which is VERY HIGH RISK ZONE and can have earthquakes of magnitude 8 and greater. The Shillong Earthquake of 1897 was of 8.7 on the Richter scale. It was one of the worlds largest earthquake and devastated the thriving Shillong town then. The next major earth quake that rocked Northeast India was in 1950 which measured 8.5 on the Richter scale. Sadiya, the thriving town was washed away during this period. Apart from these two major earthquakes recorded, everyone in Northeast India knows of the uncountable minor earthquakes in the region.

In this context, can the people of Arunachal Pradesh wake up from their deep slumber? Is the construction of more than 100 Dams feasible for our sustenance? What lies ahead in the future for us? Can we learn something from the 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan, though the corrupted few have forgotten our own experiences? The people of Arunachal Pradesh have to think seriously about it. Its a question of our own survival.

The Indian Government have problem with construction of a single Dam over Xiang River on the Tibetan Plateau but what about Dams that counts more than a hundred that's coming up in Arunachal Pradesh?This is a clear example of the nuances of the so called Indian democracy. For a single Dam across the border, the Indian Government as well its media and also the people who do not know about the region makes a puss out of it. Is the Indian Media on a sojourn when it comes to the Indian side of the border or it does not have any concern for its own people's existence? It usually does so.

Kudos to Adisu and also the Mishmi students for being far-sighted on Mega-Dam issues. Our state is going to be a Watershed, an innovative Indian model of Rain Harvesting which the Government of India should patent. I'm not Nostradamus but I can say that the impact of these Mega Dams and an earthquake with magnitude higher than 8 on the Richter scale can flatten the hills and mountain. What will be the landscape in which we will dwell after such an incident? Obviously, we will be plain people. But that comes with an exception-if we survive. Not to forget that the Himalayas are the youngest mountain ranges of the world.

With deep sympathy and my prayers for the people of Japan, can we Arunachalees open our eyes? A persons eye which cannot see the unseen, is worse than a blind man. So, before its too late, can the policy makers ponder about the parroted word"Development."

AAPSU questions Centre & state's stand on Chakma refugees

ITANAGAR, Oct 05: All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) vehemently condemns the abduction of six members of the Mishmi community from Kathan village under Lohit district on October 4, said AAPSU president Kanu Bagang.
He alleged that the people were abducted by the Shanti Vahini a militant outfit of the Chakmas.
According to Namsai ADC R K Sharma two hundred Mishmi students were picked up by the refugees while on their way to Kathan village for a social work.
He informed that six Mishmi students who were held back are safe. They were released after intervention by the police at 11.30 this morning.
Sharma further informed that six persons were kept in Anandapur under Changlang district.
The abductees are Kunang Kri, Pravin Tayeng, Bhimsi Poul, Bajongso Kri and two other names are yet to be confirmed, Bagang added.
Chakmas are never confined to their designated camps, Bagang said and added that the refugees have illegally encroached the reserved forest area and the Namdapha Wildlife Sanctuary over the last four years and involved themselves in criminal activities.
It is unfortunate that the state government who is aware of the situation is allowing the Chakma inhabitants to grow in numbers. The president further lamented that Namdapha Wildlife Sanctuary has been destroyed.
Why is the Congress government both in the state and Centre not working for the interest of the people and safeguarding the sanctuary which is of national importance.
The abduction and murders of the local people over the years speaks of the total failure of the Central government mechanism against illegal migrants, Bagang said.
He demanded that the Chakmas be evicted from National Wildlife Sanctuary within one month. He warned that the union will take its own course of action if the government fails to fulfil the demand.
Bagang further question as to why the International Human Rights Organization support such refugees who have not only encroached the area of other indigenous tribes but have either murdered or harassed them.
He said that the lack of political will by both the state and the Central government have resulted in refugees stepping out of line against the locals.
Chakmas have failed to gain sympathy from the local populace due to their criminal based activities, the president further said.
AAPSU will never allow illegal Chakmas to settle in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, he said and added that the lacuna lies in the political leaders who cannot take a stand.
The people need to wake up and understand the situation they face today. They must also be aware of the situation they will be facing in the near future if action is not taken against the illegal migrants, Bagang said.
Foreigners abducting locals is not only humiliation to the indigenous community but also a stab on the back, general secretary Ojing Tasing said.
Both the state and central governments are not serious to solve the burning Chakma refugee issue, he added. The general secretary further demanded that the refugees be deported from Arunachal Pradesh within one month.
There are records of Chakmas killing a Circle Officer in Deban in 1996, attacked a Forest Range Officer who was on eviction drive duty in 1997 and murdered a Zilla Parishad Member in Dyiun in 2003.
Tasing questioned as to why the GOI is supporting the refugees with criminal mentality. Why is the Center insisting that Chakmas be settled in Arunachal Pradesh, he further questioned.
The general secretary also question as to why the state government is a mute spectator. AAPSU strongly protest against the illegal encroachment of Chakmas in Namdapha Wildlife Sanctuary, he added.
Tasing informed that the union was still not aware if the six abductees have been released.
The general secretary also said that issue of Chakma is raised only during the state assembly election.
AAPSU hoped that the present government would find a solution and solve the vexed issue, he added.
Tasing further questioned as to why not one elected representatives have raised their concern over the refugee outfit abduction people in its own home grounds.
Arunachal Congress (AC) condemned the abduction of innocent people by the Chakmas.
AC president Er. Chau Tan Manpoong condemning the heinous act informed that the apex members of AC will be on official tour to find out the situation. He urged the people to come together and fight against the outsiders.

The Arunachal Times, 6 October 2008.

ACR raises questions on forest rights and refugee issues, AAPSU reacts
ITANAGAR, Oct 6: Arunachal Citizens Rights (ACR) expressed concern at the reported abduction of hundreds of indigenous Mishmis and forceful confinement of six by Chakmas at Anandpur in Changlang district is a grave indication of the confrontation between the local people of Arunachal Pradesh and unsolicited settlement of Chakma refugees in the state by the Union Govt. A problem for which, a solution is long overdue.
'The alleged encroachment into NamdaTaneebrotherhoodpha Wildlife Sanctuary by the Chakma settlers and the inaction of the Govt to confine them to their designated camps is another serious concern that the Govt is sleeping over. Had the encroachers been indigenous people, the authorities would have swiftly evicted them without thinking twice. But the failure to take any action on the refugees, who have encroached into a Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a National Park and a Tiger Project, and even after reports of abduction of local people under gun-point exposes the 'fear of the unknown' harbored by the authorities. While the incident proves the extremities that the Chakma settlers are willing to resort to, inaction on part of the Govt exposes its weakness in dealing with a situation that has now become only an election issue.
At the same time, criticism is equally liable on the state govt and its leaders for failing from all fronts on this particular issue.
'AAPSU isn't wrong in pointing out what is stopping the state govt to take up the issue with the central govt. Both the govts are of the Congress. Till now the state govt should have been able to convince the central leaders on the gravity of the issue and find a solution. It always takes a serious incident like a murder of a circle officer and a ZPM, assault on a forest officer or abduction of hundreds of people under gun-point for the authorities to take notice. Noticeably and unfortunately the authorities have, as of now, grown lethargic to such incidents, said its chairperson Bamang Tago.
The Govt could very well pursue the matter with central leaders all the time, not waiting for an unsavory incident to occur. Continuous talks, persuasions, representations and resolutions in this regard would have at least made the Center take notice and may be finally give a decision in favour of the indigenous people of the state. But the state govt and its mandarins have just failed to do so.
When a cabinet sub-committee was constituted by the state govt to study the Chakma issue, a ray of hope had flickered in. Unfortunately, the committee is yet to come out with a solution. If it is not possible for the committee to arrive at any conclusion on the issue, its existence on paper is a farce and better to do away with it.
On the other hand, the central govt has failed to live up to the expectations of the people not only of Arunachal Pradesh but of the whole North East. It has passed several acts and enactments formulated by people sitting in the cozy rooms of New Delhi without taking into confidence the people who would be actually affected by the enactments, particularly those of the indigenous communities. Even when consulted, recommendations from indigenous societies have hardly found any place in the final draft of the bills later passed without much deliberation by the Parliament. One such bill passed recently that has a major impact on the indigenous people of the North East is the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006. Objections and recommendations from civil societies and intellectuals from the region were never incorporated in the final bill. The state govt hardly had any say in its formulation. It won't be wrong if a perception is made that the state govt didn't even go through it.
The first objection in the Act in question is that it does not define what it means by 'Other Traditional Forest Dwellers'. In a state like Arunachal Pradesh where all tribes come under the 6th Schedule proclaiming them as scheduled tribes, the identity of Other Traditional Forest Dwellers becomes very vague. Does it mean all those coming from outside the state, including the Chakmas and Hajongs, settled in the forests as rightful traditional forest dwellers with rights on forest lands that traditionally belong to the indigenous people? Big question that was never thought of by the state govt.
The Act then provides rights over forest land to all forest dwellers including those called as 'Traditional Forest Dwellers' besides the scheduled tribes, who have been occupying the land till before December 13, 2005. Now, 2005 is comparatively a very recent year, which means almost all the Chakma and Hajong refugees as well as people from other states of the country residing in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh (which is almost 80% of the total land) would have right over the land occupied by them and the resources from it. The Act, in a sense, is contradictory to the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873 already in force in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
Another initiative of the Central Govt that goes against the interest of indigenous people is the EIA Regulations, which takes away the right of the state from its forests and natural resources.
If the state govt doesn't have any say on its forests and natural resources, how can it safeguard the interests of its people? Hoping the same from the central govt is expecting a lot from an unexpected quarter.
The state govt has to wake up from its deep slumber and stand up to such regulations and enactments that would go against the interest and welfare of its indigenous people before it is too late, a statement read.
On the other hand, All Arunachal Pradesh Student's Union (A.A.P.S.U) expressed grave concern over the statement made by police that the police department have no knowledge of the abductions of students in connection with the kidnapping of 6(six) students leaders from Kathan village in Lohit district by Chakma refugees on October 4 last as carried in certain local dailies of the state.
The union decry's the loose statement and is at loss of words to describe the version of the police department when the whole of the state came to know about the unfortunate incident within a short span of time.
We are apprehensive that such loose comments would embolden the criminal activities and are often used by these refugees in national and international forum as documents to argue their point.
The union urged upon the officials who are at the helm of affairs to have the audacity and courage to spell out the truth and tell the whole world what these refugees are up to and the dangerous real life Dramas these people are enacting in the guise of Refugees.

The Arunachal Times, 7 October 2008.

PPA blames Congress and BJP for refugee problem
The Arunachal Times, 7 October 2008.

ITANAGAR, Oct 6: The abduction of indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh by the refugee miscreants is unfortunate and shameful act, said People's Party of Arunachal.
Six people were kept in the custody of Chakma refugees in Changlang district. These people were subsequently released after the police intervened.
Instead of being grateful to the indigenous people for giving them temporary shelter, they are inflicting violence against host, which is intolerable said its general secretary Dr Ashan Riddi
'The National Parties are the responsible for suffering of our people today. The Indian National Congress imposed burden of refugee to Arunachal Pradesh and the BJP is trying to legalize our suffering by enrolling refugee in Electoral Roll. The national political parties took advantages of ignorance and innocence of our people. The Indian National Congress has been ruling at Centre and State for long period, but there is no sign of any initiative to resolve the refugee and border issues. This is because of lack of assertiveness to protect own regional interest by our people' it said.
Our leaders have become blind followers of their respective bosses in Delhi and have so miserably failed to address all our vital issues.

The Peoples struggle for Social Justice at NERIST,Arunachal Pradesh

Introduction

North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology(NERIST) was brought to standstill by organizations, namely, Students Union NERIST (SUN), NERIST Arunachalee Employees Welfare Association (NAE-WA), NERIST Employees Union (NEU) and NERIST Technical Staff union society with its indefinite strike from today, i.e.26 September 2008, demanding termination of Ashok Singh. “The academic activities and administrative functioning of NERIST were totally crippled due to indefinite strike” according to NAEWA sources, observed the Arunachal Times.

Why the NERIST Registrar Ashok Singh should go?

SUN, the student body of NERIST had submitted a memo to NERIST director demanding termination of Singh on Aug 25 last. It had demanded the termination of Singh from the institute within 30 days over the various charges. The SUN alleged that “the NERIST registrar did not fulfill the age criteria for the post at the time of his joining, got his son admitted into NERIST without proper documents, made himself the sole authority for taking law and order into his own hands directing police force to enter the institute and create havoc inside the campus and physically harassed the students through outside elements”. However, “the alleged is still in office while no determinate decision has been concluded by the committee formed to overlook the matter”, it said. Further, the Union said that “the indefinite strike will continue until Ashok Singh is terminated”.

View of the People’s Party of Arunachal (P.P.A)

According to the Arunachal Times, “the People's Party of Arunachal (P.P.A) appreciated what it termed the bold step taken by the NERIST Arunachalee Employees Welfare Association (NAEWA) by filing case against the Registrar, NERIST under Prevention of Atrocities Act and Rules”. “This move would set the example to tribal people who are subjected to various forms of racial discrimination and atrocities in other Central Institutions and other parts of India”, the party said. “The tribal people particularly Arunachalees face different kinds of racial discrimination and atrocities in mainland India and in various Central Institutions. The North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) is only one example where the tribal people are suffering atrocities from their authorities. This move is a kind of attempt to assert the dignity and self-esteem of the tribal people”, the party release added.

Conclusion

The revived Peoples’ Party of Arunachal, the first regional party of the state that had merged with Janata Dal (JD) in 1989, should start fighting right from the bottom to boost its support base as a real regional party. As such, its support for the Peoples struggle at NERIST is in the right direction. The honour that PPA receieved from the indigenous people of the land during the time of Late Bakin Pertin and Tomo Riba needs to be revived. To do it, the present leaders should not deviate itself from the peoples struggle. In doing so, definitely the young generations would follow their elders in keeping the fundamental basic human right to “live with dignity”.
Its fight should look beyond just competing the Parliamentary and State Assembly elections in 2009, to boost its support base. PPA should “stand for the interest of people” as it is a “Party for the people”. In maintaining so, obviously it will turn out to be a ‘Party by the people” because of its popular mass base. If the MNF in Mizoram, Nagaland People’s Front or the Sikkim Democratic Front can do well, “Why not the Peoples Party of Arunachal?” The coalition base politics in India has thrown up lots of opportunities which can be explored and tapped according to the “Peoples Interest”.

Reference
NERIST shut demanding registrar’s termination, The Arunachal Times, 26 September 2008

Arunachal Congress and the issue of refugee

The Arunachal Congress (AC) was born during 1995 because of the refugee issue in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India. The then Chief Minister Gegong Apang in a public rally at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium at Naharlagun formed the AC with the support of the people. During this movment, all the Indian National Congress (INC) legislatures of the Arunachal State Assembly resigned from the INC membership and became part of the newly formed AC Party. The main objective for the formation of AC was to fight aginst the Indian Governments attitude towards the refugee issue in Arunachal Pradesh. The people of Arunachal Pradesh are fed up in giving shelter to the refugees for the last five or six decades. The refugees have started to marginalize and challenge the local indegenous people forgetting that they are the one who have sheltered them in times of trouble. The Indian Government was not in a position to shelter these refugees which can be seen from the fact that they were transferred from the Indian state of Bihar to its present location. The Indian Government had violated its own law by keeping away the implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) as per the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act 1873. Keeping this in mind, the Arunachal Congress celebrated its 13th Foundation Day vowing to continue the struggle against foreigners.
But a big question needed to be answered is “Whether its fight is genuine or not?” “Who is this Jivan Gurung whom they have appointed as General Secretary?” He seems to be a Gorkha or a Nepali. If he is a Gorkha, Gorkhaland is where he should play Politics not here. Nepali...Nepal is his homeland.
The Arunachal Congress should be very careful in doing its homework. Otherwise, its nothing but would be like selling off our own homeland in the long run. “Politics is the medium through which we unknowingly start to give legitimacy to what we actually are against.”

Reference
Tayeng,Ojing (2008),”Arunachal Congress vows to continue the struggle against foreigners 13th Foundation Day celebrated”, The Arunachal Times, 21 September 2008.

The Indian PM Manmohan Singh's visit to Arunachal Pradesh: A Review

Samudra Gupta Kasyap writes the visit in The Indian Express as "Arunachal Pradesh probably is one state that does not always find space in the national media. Politicians, including Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, say the state does not get enough coverage because it is 'neither here nor there'. Neither is Arunachal Pradesh politically important — it has only two members in the Lok Sabha — nor does it have insurgent groups (like Assam, Nagaland or Manipur) which would generate news of violence and killings and grab some media headlines.But it has been in the news for the past few days, especially after China renewed its claim over the state . This was followed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s historic trip to Beijing. And as MPs from the state raked up the issue of Chinese claims over its territory, the Prime Minister also came on a two-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which incidentally was also a visit by a Prime Minister to the state after a gap of nine years. H D Deve Gowda was the last Prime Minister to have come to Itanagar".

He further observes that "The Prime Minister’s two-day visit, however, has come as a big boost to the morale of the state, especially after a huge sense of insecurity, triggered off by repeated claims by China, had spread across Arunachal".

A Review: The author's view regarding the cirumstances (the chinese claim of Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of it's territory) that had led to the Indian PM's visit is acceptable to me. Further, his views regarding Northeast's experiences with Central packages sounds good enough. He observes, "Singh announced a massive developmental package for the state, running into over Rs 8,000 crore. But it is also equally important that Delhi ensures proper implementation of this package. Northeast’s experience with Central packages announced in the past has not been very pleasant". Corruption has played as a great deterrent in it's implementation but most of these packages also remains only as "an announced package".

The problem lies regarding his views to the "sense of insecurity, triggered off by repeated claims by China, had spread across Arunachal". There's a big question regarding it. Personally for me, I don't feel threatened by the Chinese claim. The 1962 Sino-India War bears proff for it. It was the Indian's who brought about this threat perception propaganda where the indigeneous people were evacuated to the plains of Assam such as Dibrugarh and Guwahati. People who remained back were well-off. Lego in his book,The Modern History of Arunachal Pradesh observes that "When the indigeneous people took up the rifles left by the Indian Army to fight against the chinese, they didn't fire even a single shot. Rather the indigeneous people were proclaimed as brother's". Therefore, the sense of threat perception for the indigeneous people needs to be questioned.

What threatens the indigeneous people of Arunachal Pradesh? The threat comes from the refugees like the Chakma and Hajong who are from Bangladesh. How is it a threat for us? It becomes a threat for us because the Indian Government is trying to settle them in our land. These refugees will bring down all the indigeneous tribe's to minority. The Chinese threat perception is secondary because the Chinese won't drive us out from our land. The 1962 Sino-India war bears the testimony. The Chinese claim of the state is an issue for the politicians not the public. Therefore, if the Indian Government is really concern about the indigeneous people, the refugee issue needs to be solved. As rational human beings, we have sheltered them for around four decades when they were thrown out from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar instead of sheltering them.We cannot allow foreigners to get settlement rights in our land. It's protection is my birth right. We have shed blood for it and we will fight till death...

Reference
Kashyap, Samudra Gupta(2008), "A PM's visit after 9 yrs boost morale of a 'neglected' state," The Indian Express, 4 Febuary 2008,[Online:Web] Accessed 4 Febuary 2008, URL: http://www.indiaexpress.com/story/268627.html
Lego, N(2007), Modern History of Arunachal Pradesh

Missing World War II Plane B-24J found near Damroh in Taniland

On 25 January 1944, Plane B-24J which was nicknamed "Hot As Hell" took off from Kunming, China with eight crew members for a routine flight to Chabua, India. The plane never reached its destination. The crews were declared dead on 20 November 1944. On 7 December 2006, a private American investigator Mr. Clayton discovered the crash site near Damroh, East Siang district, Taniland (Arunachal Pradesh) with the assistance of Adi (Abor) villagers.

Clayton Kuhles has taken on the project of searching for as many of these Missing in Action (MIA) aircrafts as he can find. Aiding in his service is Oken Tayeng who runs Abor Country Travels and Expeditions. Oken says that "the region is littered with these planes. The locals have seen these planes crash but we do not have the expertise for identification of the planes. Clayton has taken up the initiative of identifying these planes."

Reference

Clayton Kuhles maintained website: http://www.miarecoveries.org/
Prasad, S (2007), Hot as Hell, Found in Paradise, 15 December 2007, http://frontierindia.net/hot-as-hell-found-in-paradise

Prospects of International Border Trade in Arunachal Pradesh

From time immemorial we had never been so much dependent on others. But today, we are left at the mercy of the Indian Government.Why is it so? Didn't we traded with the people from the plains or beyond the so called International border(present day India with Bhuthan, China/Tibet and Myanmar). Absolutely, we did. The closing down of this border trade has made us totally dependent on the Indian Government, which is a policy outcome of the "Indian think-tanks".

Sometimes, its quite embrassing when ever an Indian questions, 'What is your contribution to the Indian State?' They don't realise that we are the protector of the longest International boundary of the Indian State having 160 Km with Bhutan, 1080 Km with China/Tibet and a stretch of 540 Kms with Myanmar. Above all, our economy have been totally uprooted by the Indian Government by closing down the International trade, so that we be dependent on them. This is nothing, but something comes behind it.

We are contributing to the Indian Economy in the other way round. In what way? On behalf of us, the Indian coastal states are contributing as they are the one who are benefitting a lot out of the closure of our Border Trade which we had been practising since ancient times. The "Look East Policy" of the Indian Government is one such important example through which the coastal states have benefitted a lot, which in real sense should had been ours. Therefore, the Inernational Border Trade should be opened so that we no longer remain under the clutches of Indian Hegemony.

As such, the proposal brought out by the Government of Arunachal Pradesh in regard to the International Border Trade is a wel come gesture.Following are the proposed border trade points/centres as put up by the Arunachal Pradesh Government(North East Sun, November 16-30, 2007, Vol XIII, No. 08, p.10.)-

-Pangsu Pass (Nampong) in Changlang District(Indo-Myanmar border)
-Kibithoo in Anjaw District (Indo-China border)
-Kepangla Pass(Gelling) in Upper Siang District(Indo-China border)
-Lolla Pass(Mechuka) in West Siang District (Indo-China)
-Dumla Pass( Monigong) in West Siang District(Indo-China).
-Taksing in Upper Subansiri District(Indo-China).
-Bumla and Kenzamane (Zeminthang) in Tawang District(Indo-China border).
-Bleeting (Namstering)/Dongshengmang in Tawang District(Indo-Bhutan).

But a big question that lies to be answered is "Who is going to control all the trade?" It's "we" or someone else. When present day trade in our state is controlled by the outsiders, "What do we expect?"

Reference

North East Sun, "Khandu on Look East Policy", November 16-30, 2007, Vol XIII, No.08, p.10.