ITANAGAR: The decades-old contentious Chakma-Hajong refugee issue could to sloved soon with the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) offering olive branches to the refugees, who made Arunachal their temporary home after being displaced from their native land by Kaptai dam project in Chittagong Hill Tracts in East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh) in 1964.
The breakthrough came during the one-to-one talks between the representatives of the AAPSU and Committee for Citizenship Right of the Chakmas and Hajong of Arunachal Pradesh (CCRCHAP) facilitated by Union Home Ministry’s joint secretary (NE) Sambhu Singh at Banquet Hall here on Monday.
Mr Singh, who heads the joint high power committee (JHPC) constituted by the Central government for resolving the refugees issue, in his opening remarks made it clear that being a Manipur cadre IAS officer with over two-decades service in the region he understands the concern of the indigenous Aruncahlees as well as the refugees.
Though the concerns were genuine, the meeting aimed at finding a common ground.
The JHPC neither has authority to grant citizenship nor violate any constitutional provision, but would provide inputs for framing a national policy for the foreigners in the country.
Mr Singh in his concluding remarks termed it as great achievement and lauded both sides for presenting their views very clearly.
State’s political secretary Indira Mallo Jain was equally appreciative of the outcome, saying it would pave the way for further consultations on a firm ground to arrive at a consensus.
On behalf of the refugee inhabited Changlang, Lohit and Papum Pare districts, deputy commissioner (DC) of Lohit, RK Sharma highlighted as to how the refugees had encroached upon 1,020 hectares of reserve forest though their settlement area was only 724 hectares.
They population-30 per cent of the total population in Changlang and 10 per cernt in Chowkham – had outnumbered the locals while they were engaged in numerous organised crimes, including kidnapping, murder and forest offence cases besides floating an armed outfit (United People’s Democratic Front). Therefore, granting citizenship to them was a matter of great concern as it would change the demographic pattern.
However, no encroachment was reported in Lohit and Papum Pare’s Kokila, he said.
The Arunachal Pradesh government has been extended benefits under all state and Centrally-sponsored schemes except PDS and MGNREGA, the DC said, adding 2,000 refugees have been granted citizenship as directed by the MoHA, while many cases were still pending for past 11 years.
While thanking the state government and the people for sheltering, them, CCRCHAP general secretary Santosh Chakma pleaded for legal and political recognition, including citizenship to participate in development process as responsible citizens.
Pleading for minimum basic facilities, he said majority of the refugees were born in the state, who now represent three generations.
He said though about 15,000 comprising 2,902 families had migrated in 1964-69, the population stood at 32,196, 42,333 and 53,221 as per central survey report of 1991, 2,000 and 2010 respectively and the figure was not disproportionate as claimed.
He said because of massive erosion by Noa-Dehing river, de-reservation of 460 hectare forest in Nampuk in 1975 and 25 hectare de-reserved for the Deoris, 660 refugee families had migrated from Diban to inside the jungle in 1979, which was inspected by a DC-headed committee and recommended for its de-reservation.
The encroachments in Namdapha Wildlife Sanctuary and private land at Miao were sub-judice, he pointed out.
Without denying presence of criminal elements among the Chakma refugees, Santosh said the local administration and police were not forthcoming to tackle criminals, including drug peddlers in Vijaynagar whenever their help was sought. He assured all possible cooperation in tackling law and order in refugee-inhabited areas.
Citing various pre-independence Acts, including the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 and Assam Frontier (Administration of Justice) Regulation 1945 (Inner Line Permit) and constitutional provisions, they said the indigenous Arunachalees are the owners of the land legally, the only example in the world.
The prevailing peace of the most patriotic ethnic people of India, who represent a classless egalitarian society has been destroyed in total violation of the constitutional provisions by the central government, National Human Right Commission and Election Commission of India, they alleged.
It amounts to protecting the human rights of the refugees at the violation of rights of Indian citizens aimed at protecting India’s global image, Pertin said without mincing any words and wondered: Can we expect someone to vacate his home to accommodate a foreigner?
The Chakma team included Arindam Dewan, Bimalkanti Chakma and Adesh Hajong.
During the over one hour one-to-one talks, AAPSU asked the refugee team to identify the original migrants of 1964-96, number of illegal Immigr Ants, their settlement areas, encroached areas, besides end encroachment forthwith and refrain from committing law and order problems.
Once these demands are met and the committee undertakes inspection of the settlement areas and verify the list, AAPSU if satisfied would support an integrated and sustainable development project to ensure all basic facilities including health and education in all refuge settlements.
“Don’t confront us, rather be with us to resolve the vexed issue”, they told in no uncertain terms.
They fixed 1969 as the cut off year, but were categorical to not allow their settlement in the state. (UNI)