ITANAGAR, 18 May: In a letter to Rinchen Lhamo, member of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), the Chakmas of Papum Pare district requested her either to visit the Buddhist Chakmas residing in Papum Pare district or allow their delegation to meet her at Itanagar during the ongoing visit to Arunachal Pradesh from 17 to 22 May, to investigate allegations of non-implementation of minority schemes for the Buddhist Chakmas.
“The Chakmas reside in three districts of Arunachal Pradesh i.e. Changlang, Namsai and Papum Pare districts. However, because of the conspiracy committed by those accused in the Hollongi airport displacement scam in which 156 Chakma families were displaced, the Chakmas of Papum Pare were completely excluded from the tour programme of the NCM member who is visiting Buddhist Chakmas in only Namsai and Changlang districts.
As per 2011 census there were only 1,562 Chakma speaking persons in Papum Pare district and therefore, they are the most vulnerable among the Buddhist Chakmas in the state,” Koruna Sindhu, president of the Chakma Displaced Families Justice Demand Committee (CDFJDC).
The CDFJDC requested the NCM member to highlight the deplorable situation of the Chakma Buddhists in Papum Pare district, and issue appropriate directions for proper rehabilitation and resettlement of the 156 displaced Chakma Buddhist families displaced by the airport at Hollongi and prosecution of the culprits.
