Citizen groups in Arunachal Pradesh have lodged a strong protest with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister over the deployment of military forces to villages protesting against the proposed Siang Dam. The groups claim that the proposed dam violates international treaties to which India is a signatory.
According to an official document, a letter issued by Siang District Deputy Commissioner P.N. Thungon directed the Circle Officer of Rebo-Perging in Siang District to deploy a team of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) near the proposed site of the 12.5 GW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), touted as India’s largest dam.
The letter, dated 6 December, stated that a CAPF team is to be stationed in Riew village as part of conducting a pre-feasibility report (PFR) for the SUMP.
In response, several women and men have been guarding the proposed dam site to prevent the completion of the pre-feasibility report.
“This directive not only raises questions about the transparency and ethics of the project but also represents a gross violation of both international and national laws safeguarding the rights of Indigenous Peoples,” said Ebo Mili, an anti-dam activist and lawyer.
Under the banner of North-East Human Rights (NEHR), the citizen group sent a letter to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister condemning leaders who have expressed support for the dam.
“We are condemning leaders such as the CM Pema Khandu, Dy CM Chowna Mein, and the MLAs Ojing Tasing, Ninong Ering, Alo Libang, and Oni Payang for supporting the SUMP dam. A few days ago, the Dy CM Chowna Mein held a meeting in Delhi with dam developers like SJVN and NEEPCO to expedite their work on 13 other mega hydropower projects,” stated the letter.
The letter further argued that the proposed SUMP violates international treaties protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“India is signatory to treaties such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Article 32(2) and International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 169, which clearly say Indigenous people must actively participate in the planning and implementation of projects affecting their land resources,” the letter stated.
The deployment of military forces has ignited a larger debate on the ethical and legal implications of the dam, further intensifying opposition from local communities and rights groups.