STRAIGHT TALK The intent of the government to issue Permanent Residential Certificates to non-APSTs of the state has become a popular topic of discussion. In protest against the state government’s decision various organizations including Students Union Movement of Arunachal Pradesh (SUMA) has been demonstrating anguish by organizing mass peace rallies in various pockets. While trying to lay bare seriousness the government had formed Joint High Power Committee in this regard but unfortunately the affected people are yet to be invited for placement of their opinions. The natural disaster prone and stripe torn Lohit and Changlang are the pivotal districts where most non-APSTs who are claiming PRC has huge population. Gradually, the indigenous people of these two districts are losing faith in the integrity of their political representatives and the state government as well. The local citizens of these two districts are aghast as they have not been invited or included for participation in the JHPC sittings. The non-APSTs have every right to claim for PRCs and the state government too has the right and obligation to decide their fate but it should not be at the cost of local interests. Therefore, the formation of the JHPC undoubtedly smacks negativity and political interest, or else the affected people would not have been sidelined. Here, it must be noted that the government has tremendously failed to address the refugee problem, the blunder committed four decades ago. In the mid 60s, a substantial Chakma population were given refuge in Lohit and Changlang districts but were left astray and today the indigenous people have been outnumbered and if the trend continues, chances of forced exodus of locals from their homeland in near future cannot be ruled out. The successive governments and elected leaders who are representing these two districts till date have never raised the issue in right perspective. They are opportunists and are experts in vote bank politics. In true sense, these leaders neither have respect for the sentiments of their fellow tribal brethrens nor do they actually care about the fate of non-APSTs. The only thing they care is to remain in power, by hook or by crook. That is the sole reason why they are advocating for issue of PRCs without a second thought. Till date the indigenous people have not been taken into confidence by these so-called leaders. The elected representatives of Changlang and Lohit districts who are obsessed in optimum ought to comprehend that they are preparing ground for Non-APSTs to establish themselves as true deciding factors in electoral polity. While the refugee problem is still unsolved, the elected representatives are surprisingly working overtime to ensure that PRC issue is solved before the state assembly polls later next year to guarantee their victory. Do the state government and representatives of these districts have the exact data of Chakma population? It is no secret but encroachment and crime is committed openly without any fear or hesitation. On several occasion it was announced that proper dossier would be prepared and that demarcation will be done but other than tall talks nothing worth mentioning has surfaced till date. Not only the indigenous population but even the Chakma-Hajong people are victims of government’s apathy. It is learnt that the JHPC had conducted meetings in the state capital but representatives from affected areas or conflict zones were not entertained. It is not understandable why organizations like Singpho Development Society, Tangsa Youth Association, All Mishmi Students Union, All Tai Khampti Singpho Students Union, Tai-Khampti Singpho Council and N’Hkumsang Council are not invited for placement of their opinions? How on earth can those organizations and individuals that have seldom seen and experienced problems know the problems faced by the affected people? How can the fate and future of affected people and areas be decided without their opinion? There is a need to arrive at an amicable solution to decades old refugee problem including the spicy PRC issue but unless affected people participate, craving for solution would remain just a myth. Now, the student’s apex body , AAPSU remains the ultimate hope expecting to play a true role before the situation goes hay ware.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 15:22:55 +0000
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