CCDD seeks resettlement for Lamphel evictees

IMPHAL, September 4: With nowhere to go and no one to care for them, the affected and evicted victims of Lamphel Yaipha leikai have now become refugees in their own homeland, a statement issued to the press by Aram Pamei, co-chairperson of Citizens Concern for Dams and Devlopment, CCDD stated and further urged the Government of Manipur to provide appropriate rehabilitation and resettlement immediately and to revoke the eviction order dated 3 June 2011.

Expressing serious concerns over the displacement and continued neglect and irresponsiveness of the state government to rehabilitate the victims of the "forcible and illegal eviction", Aram of CCDD further pointed out that the eviction happened more than a year ago on 6 June 2011 following the order issued three days earlier, 3 June.

In a statement issued to the press, CCDD sought for a clarification from the state government to identify and present a white paper on the number of encroachers in Lamphelpat wetlands and to take appropriate steps to prosecute all those responsible for allowing such encroachers.

It is unfortunate that the authority selectively evicts families and individual even though there is either no comprehensive policy for wetlands management or a separate Lamphelpat management policy, the statement stated and further charged of promoting encroachers in Lamphelpat area.

The continued harassment from the law enforcing agencies to Yaipha Leikai eviction victims, including repeated dismantling of newly built homes after eviction constitute an insensitivity to the and added that they are now impoverished and forced to flee and disperse without any access to basic essential amenities of survival including water, shelter, sanitation and education for children.

This is a violation of their rights, the CCDD co-chairperson charged and added, their right to life and housing rights are all violated.

The victims have been depending on their land for more than 30 years through fishing, grazing, collection of seasonable plants and as such they have every right to be adequately rehabilitated or compensated as per both Indian laws and international laws on housing rights and rights of indigenous peoples, the statement stated and urged the government to make an alternative rehabilitation arrangement for the eviction victims in close consultation and acceptable to them.

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