Tamenglong, May 23: A democratic mass rally for the protection of indigenous land and resources was held at Tamenglong Headquarters. The protest rally was organized by the Joint Action Committee (JCC), a conglomeration of the Zeme Naga Council Manipur (ZNCM), Liangmai Naga Council (LNCM), Rongmei Naga Council Manipur (RNCM), Inpui Naga Union (INU), Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary Affected Village Committee (ZWSAVC), Buning Wildlife Sanctuary Affected Village Committee (BWSAVC), Jiri Makru Wildlife Sanctuary Affected Village Committee (ZMWSAVC), Village Authority Chairman Council (VACC), and Chairmen Secretaries Association Tamenglong (CSAT).
Protesters chanted slogans such as “No to Wildlife Sanctuary,” “No to Reserve Forest,” “No to Protected Forest,” and “No to D2, D3 Seismic Survey in Tamenglong and Noney Districts.” They also displayed placards reading “Our Land, Our Lives, Our Rights,” “We Are Guardians, Not Encroachers,” and “Development Must Be with Us, Not Against Us.”
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It is worth noting that there are three wildlife sanctuaries in Tamenglong District: Jiri Makru Wildlife Sanctuary, Buning Wildlife Sanctuary, and Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary. Villagers, landowners, and stakeholders claim that these sanctuaries were notified without the consent of the affected villages. They assert that the proposed sanctuaries did not follow the proper procedures as outlined by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) 2007. Government authorities also failed to obtain the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent of the indigenous landowners.
Today’s mass rally saw the highest turnout among all rallies previously held in Tamenglong District. People from Noney District, Tousem Subdivision, and Tamei Subdivision left behind their fields to participate in this crucial rally.
The rally began at Apollo Ground and concluded at Jadonang Park, Tamenglong Headquarters. During the protest, all shops, commercial vehicles, and business institutions remained closed.
Following the rally, Joint Action Committee executive members proceeded to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office at the Mini Secretariat, Farmland, to submit a memorandum to the Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Government of India.
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Copies of the memorandum were also sent to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change; the Governor, Government of Manipur; the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Government of Manipur; the Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Manipur; and the Divisional Forest Officer, Tamenglong Division.