ALL ALL is not well in the “oasis of peace”. Regarded as the most peaceful State in the North-Eastern region, Arunachal Pradesh is now fighting hard to keep its reputation intact as the vexed refugee issue is once again threatening to snowball into a major crisis. The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) is sticking to its stand of  “no solution-no election’’ like the unruffled Election Commission (EC), which seems to be in no mood to withdraw its directive to enroll 1,497 Chakma and Hajong refugees in the State’s electoral roll. Caught in between the AAPSU and the EC, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang has resigned from the chairmanship of the Coordination Committee on Chakma and Hajong refugee issue (CoCo) and the CoCo has decided to suspend its activities till the completion of the election process in the State, alleging betrayal by the State’s politicians. On its part, the Centre as usual has adopted the same wait and watch policy by the promising to take up the matter after the formation of the new government. The only happy side in the entire controversy is the Committee for Citizenship Rights of the Chakmas of Arunachal Pradesh (CCRCAP). Expressing confidence that the State Government under the leadership of Gegong Apang would be able to find permanent solution of this vexed issue, CCRCAP has urged AAPSU to withdraw poll boycott call. But the AAPSU is unmoved. The students union ridiculed the Chakmas plea to withdraw the poll-boycott call, saying that “the refugees have no right to interfere in the matters of the indigenous people and instead of fighting against the Arunachalee tribals they should go back to Bangladesh to claim their right.’’

Chakma and Hajong refugees settled in Arunachal Pradesh after being displaced by the    construction of Kaptai Dam in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh and religious persecution between 1964-69.

Presenting its case AAPSU president Byabang Taj said,  “The Arunachalees are not opposed to granting of citizenship to the Chakmas and Hajongs but against their permanent settlement in Arunachal Pradesh. If these refugees are granted voting rights, then Bhutanese, Nepalese and Tibetians should also be allowed to vote. The refugee population in Arunachal is multiplying with every passing day and we are apprehensive that if the trend continues, the indigenous population will be in minority by 2021.’’

AAPSU has found a friend in BJP. The ruling party of the State is also in favour just and acceptable solution of the problem.

‘Residentship, not citizenship was objectionable,’ said Arunachal Chief Minister and BJP leader Gegong Apang. With the entry of the political parties in the scene the blame game also starts. Mr Apang claimed that 1,497 refugees were enrolled by the previous Congress regime though it violated the provisions of Representation of People Act, 1951.On the other hand, the Congress has accused the Chief Minister of paving the way for enrollment of 1,497 Chakma-Hajong refugees in the State’s electoral rolls. In the present situation, the Chakmas and Hajongs in Arunachal are living with the fear of being displaced once again.

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