Orgs voice support for bandh call
ITANAGAR, Sep 18: The consultative meeting convened by All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Sunday sought clarification from the three MPs of the state on their stand on the Chakma-Hajong issue and criticized the MP trio for keeping mum on the burning issue.
The meeting attended by NESO and former student leaders and all federating units of AAPSU opposed tooth and nail the Centre’s decision to grant citizenship rights to the refugees.
They called upon people of the state, including the legislators, government officials, NGOs and organizations to rise to the occasion and make the movement against the refugees a success.
Various organisations across the state have come out to express their solidarity with the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) in its 12 hours state wide bandh on Tuesday against the Chakma-Hajong refugee issue.
The Arunachal Students Union Delhi (ASUD) is staging a peaceful protest in support of AAPSU’s 12 hour state wide bandh at the New Delhi Arunachal Bhawan.
“We are trying to pass the message to the centre that indigenous people rights are going to be trampled the moment Chakmas and Hajongs are given citizenship”, said ASUD GS Dewan Natung.
“There is misconception among that people of Delhi and the rest of India that Arunachal is curtailing refugees’ rights, but the fact is our own indigenous people are going to be outnumbered by the refugees. This is the message we want to pass on, along with the AAPSU”, Natung said.
The ASUD also demanded complete rollback of implementation of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy 2014 in Arunachal Pradesh and demanded that the Government of India ensure demographic safety of the indigenous people.
The All Mishmi Students’ Union, All Lohit District Students Union, All Anjaw District Students Union, IGG College Students’ Union, and various students’ organisations from Lohit and Anjaw in a meeting condemned the Centre’s move to grant citizenship rights to Chakma and Hajong refugees and unanimously decided to support the movement of AAPSU against the decision of the government in every possible way to safeguard the rights of indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
They also supported the 12 hour state wide bandh made by the AAPSU for September 19.
The Arunachal Pradesh Youth Brigade also extended support to AAPSU’s state wide bandh and appealed to the people of Arunachal to stand united.
The NEFA Indigenous Human Rights Organisation (NIHRO) also strongly opposed the central government’s decision to grant citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees.
In a press statement, NIHRO Chairman Tage Lapung reminded the central as well as the state governments that Arunachal Pradesh will be the most affected state from the Centre’s decision as bulk of these refugees in the North East have been settled in Arunachal Pradesh.
President Domin Loya said, “The central government cannot make arbitrary decisions without the consent of the people, who would be affected by granting of citizenship to the Chakma and Hajong refugees.”
NIHRO General Secretary Japon K L urged both the central and state governments to draw policy in consultation with the indigenous people of the state that will safeguard the rights and interests of the indigenous people, before granting citizenship to the refugees.
