Skip to content Skip to navigation

Northeast Indigenous Organizations Condemn FIR Against Lawyer, Oppose Siang Dam Project in Arunachal Pradesh

Three prominent Indigenous rights organizations from Northeast India — the Centre for Research and Advocacy (CRA), Manipur; Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), Sikkim; and Borok Peoples’ Human Rights Organization (BPHRO), Tripura — have issued a strong joint statement in solidarity with the Adi people of Arunachal Pradesh. They condemned the recent filing of an FIR against human rights lawyer Ebo Mili and called for an immediate halt to the ongoing Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) survey for the controversial 11,000 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project (SUMP).

The organizations criticized the Government of India for proceeding with the survey without obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of the local Indigenous communities, a violation of both constitutional safeguards and international human rights norms. They also denounced the December 2024 notification by the Arunachal Pradesh government authorizing the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces in Siang District to aid the dam survey, labeling it as a clear act of militarization.

“This is a blatant attack on democracy and the rights of the Indigenous Adi people,” the statement read. “The dam poses grave risks to their land, forests, livelihood, culture, and identity. It threatens displacement, ecological destruction, and increased disaster vulnerability, including downstream flooding in Assam.”

The joint press release also highlighted broader environmental risks, including the region’s seismic vulnerability and the impacts of climate change, citing past disasters like the 2011 earthquake and the October 2023 glacial lake outburst that breached Sikkim’s Teesta III dam.

The organizations demanded:

  • The immediate withdrawal of the FIR against Ebo Mili.

  • A halt to all survey activities for the Siang dam.

  • Demilitarization of the affected areas.

  • A genuine dialogue process with the Adi community.

  • Exploration of sustainable development alternatives that respect Indigenous rights.

The statement concluded by urging the Indian government to prioritize the long-term interests and survival of the Indigenous peoples of Arunachal Pradesh over destructive mega-projects.

Comments

Take Riso's picture

What about the multi dama already started the construction had been started, if you considered this factor as mentioned. Say Subonsiri hydro project 2000 MW, Debang valley 2200MW , Kameng I & Ii nearly 1600MW, Ranganadi, pare etc & many more are going to coming up. What do you say about it. I'm writing only to Arunachal pradesh not others state. Arunachal Capital are supposed to be established in siang belt but public complaint, great economic losses for Adi people. Rest tribes are well coming Govt vision for economic upliftment of its people. Why Adi belt/ siang belt, some handful people's are always opposing? It should be pondered upon by that particular belt.

Pages

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Maria’s Public School, Guwahati, Assam sent a delegation of six students and two teacher advisors to UNIS-UN, 2013. They set off on 3rd March to attend the Global Conference at UNIS-UN, New York and returns on 18th March. An initiative, taken by Mrs. Nellie Ahmed Tanweer, the Managing Trustee, to send students to UNIS, UN so that they interact and become global students. It has become an annual feature in the diary of the Marians since its first team visited in the year 2007.An endeavour close to the heart of Mrs. Nellie Ahmed Tanweer, this year the six students who had gone were Antareep Hazarika, Surya Prakash Medhi, Srijani Roy Chaudhury, Phameinao Shaiza and Filzah Belal, and the...
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi tabled his Rs 1300 crore deficit budget on the floor of the assembly on Monday with a mixed bag of cheers and tears. Gogoi, who also holds the finance portfolio has proposed lift tax on molasses and hiked the same on on bidi and cigarette increased from 20% to 25%. He further hiked tax on brick kiln. The budget proposed Rs 150 cr for 30 cold storage.The Chief Minister proposed smartcard for NREGA beneficiaries beside proposing Rs 60 crore for mini Assam project. Gogoi has proposed 200 bedded cancer hospital in Guwahati beside hills engineering college.
Raj Phukan,Secretary General of Green Guard Nature Organization is travelling to Antarctica with their campaign to "Save the Rhino". The group includes Robert Swan, OBE, the first & only person to walk to both the poles & environmentalist and the Indian contingent for the International Antarctic Expedition 2013.  
Eight ULFA militants and three link men surrendered before the police at Tinsukia on Friday.The militants further laid down arms before Tinsukia district Deputy Commissioner SS Meenakshi Sunderam, district superintendent of police PP Singh and DIG Satyen Gogoi.They deposited four AK-81 assault rifles with four magazines, one G-2 self-loading rifle (SLR) with three magazines, two 7.65 pistols, seven Chinese grenades, half kg TNT explosives and two mobiles.The eight ultras are Monoranjan Gogoi, Dipen Saikia, Manik Dohotia, Jayanta Saikia, Bulon Moran, Rantu Moran, Nizu Gohain and Hemkanta Changmai.
A section of parliamentary secretaries are set to bear the brunt of dissidence. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is in a mood to reshuffle his cabinet to rein in the brigades.   Gogoi is believed to have talked to Sonia Gandhi to finetune the list.Before his departure to Delhi, Gogoi suspended the four parliamentary secretaries who are known to be closed to Dr Himanta Biswa Saram . Gogoi hoped that the drama would be over within a few hours.Earlier in the morning, Gogoi held a close door meeting with APCC president Bhubneswar Kalita. Kalita refused to divulge anything in detail. On the other hand, a few more legislators have joined the signature campaign in favour of the Chief...
Rotaract Club is a service, leadership and community/university based organization for young men and women between the ages 18–30. Rotaract focuses on the development of young adults as leaders in their communities and workplaces. There are over 9,030 Rotaract clubs around the world with over 207,690 members and it is here in GUWAHATI too to make its presence felt. Youth who wants too be a part of it can simply join this group on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/groups/421458671278773/ and can get all the updates at this page from time to time. People can even email the team at rotaractclub.guwahati@gmail.com or contact at 08724815101. It is fun to be a part of this club...
The Centre on Thursday said that ULFA 'general secretary' Anup Chetia would soon be brought back from Bangladesh. The surprising move came to light when group's 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa held talks with the Centre claimed on Thursday. Talking to reporters, Rajkhowa said a positive decision on Chetia is expected soon and Chetia would take part in future rounds of talks.Union Home Secretary RK Singh told reporters that the issue was still pending in courts in Dhaka and New Delhi would deal it with legally. He said that the dialogue was held in a cordial manner and significant progress has been made in it. The talks held point-by-point discussions with the government on group's charter of...
A resurfacing dissidence seems to have put Congress in a fix. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is flying to New Delhi to apprise the party high command of the entire situation on Friday amid speculation of a preparation for cabinet reshuffle.At least 24 Congress legislators participated in the closed-door meeting, which was held at the MLA hostel in Dispur on Wednesday night. The meeting was held at MLA hostel where at least 24 Congress legislators have demanded to change in the leadership of Assam Congress legislators.In yet another development, AICC general secretary in charge of Assam affairs Digvijaya Singh has put the role of a satellite news channel under scanner in view of alleged anti...
Beware Guwahatians. Ulfa's Paresh Barua faction plans to blow up Guwahati. According to sources available with the government, a group of dreaded Ulfa militants has sneaked into the city with a plan to strike with a car bomb. The militants are believed to have used a black car to explode the powerful explosition. Police have beefed up security to thwart the attempt.
Two poachers were killed and three others have been injured at an encounter in Kaziranga on Wednesday. The encounter took place in the Agaratali range in the wee hours. A gang of poachers started indiscriminate firing as they faced the forest guards patrolling on the spot. When the forest guards retaliated with firing, two poachers were killed on the spot. Two others managed to escape.