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| Headlines Vol. 2 Issue No. 7 | July 7 - 21, 2003 |
Rights of indigenous people must be protected: Mithi Arunachal Chief Minister Mukut Mithi has said people of the State are not against the Chakma-Hajong communities but rights of the indigenous people as enshrined in the Constitution should be safeguarded first. All political parties and the entire student community should stand together to protect the interest of the indigenous people, Mithi said at a public rally at Namsai in Lohit district. The rally was organised by All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union to protest against settlement of Chakma and Hajong refugees in the State. The Chief Minister expressed concern that the demography of the areas having Chakma-Hajong people as settlers has completely changed as their number increased to more than 60,000 in recent times. “We should stand united irrespective of any party or organisation when the interest of State and its people arises,” Mithi said and announced his Government would extend all support to AAPSU on the issue. Since he took over the reins, no foreigner or refugee was allowed to settle in any part of the State and they would never be allowed, the Chief Minister said. “In case the Centre wants go give citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees they may do so but not in Arunachal,” Mr. Mithi asserted. He said after the Election Commission announcement for enrolment of Chakma and Hajongs in the electoral roll with regard to their settlement, the Cabinet decided that electoral roll will be prepared by verifying the inner line permit and permanent residential certificate. Of the over 1000 applications for enrolment in Lohit district, none could qualify after verification, the Congress leader said. Endorsing Mithi’s stand, former Chief Minister Gegong Apang, MLA and Arunachal Congress leader assured all support from his party to the student organisations and to the Government with regard to the Chakma-Hajong issue. Echoing Apang, Arunachal Congress president Kamen Ringu, vociferously protested against the Central move. Other speakers who pledged support to AAPSU on the issue were BJP vice-president Tapen Siga, Rajya Sabha MP Nabam Rebia, Education Minister Takam Sanjoy and others. The participants resolved that an all-party delegation led by Mithi would call on the Prime Minister soon to express the State’s protest against the permanent settlement of Chakma-Hajong in Arunachal Pradesh. Chakmas denounce misinformation campaign The Committee for Citizenship Rights of the Chakmas of Arunachal Pradesh (CCRCAP) has expressed regret over the misinformation campaign led by a section of the political parties and some NGOs of Arunachal Pradesh against the Chakmas and Hajongs of Arunachal Pradesh. "The number of the Chakmas and Hajongs is less than 65,000 and the so-called unofficial figure of above one lakh as stated by AAPSU is nothing but an attempt to create xenophobia in Arunachal Pradesh," said Subimal Bikash Chakma, president of the CCRCAP. COCO tosses refugee issue to the Centre A joint delegation of All Party Core Committee (COCO) and All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU), during their recent 5-day ‘Delhi chalo mission’ has thrown the Chakma-Hajong refugee ball to the Centre’s court for an amicable solution. COCO co-convenor and AAPSU general secretary Magi Marging disclosed that the Chakma-Hajong issue has become a national issue now after it caught the attention of the national media and the delegates, approved various central leaders and dignitaries of the contentious issue. A COCO delegation recently visited Delhi to apprise central leaders about the refugee problems. In a positive response on the issue, Union Minister of State for home Swami Chinmayananda assured the delegates to discuss the matter with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani. While taking cognizance of the issue, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice (retd) A S Anand advocated the protection of the indigenous rights, Marging said, adding that Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Sanjay Paswan urged the COCO members to fight unitedly to protect their rights. AICC general secretaries Oscar Fernandez and Mukul Wasnik also assured help on the issue, Marging informed. Mr Marging said the delegation took serious note of the "step-motherly attitude" of Election Commissioner of India J M Lyngdoh and other election commission members and `cautioned’ them not to do anything that could have far reaching consequence in the State. The delegation also submitted proof to Central Intelligence Agencies
about the support extended by ISI, Bangladesh based Shanti Bahini and Bodo
Security Forces to Chakma Hajong refugees. |
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