PM writes to NHRC, seeks independent panel

From our Correspondent

ITAGAR, May 17: The tiol Alliance of People’s Movements (PM) has written to the tiol Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on alleged violation of human rights in the case of Tawang firing by police personnel on May 2, leaving two people dead including one young Monk and around 10 injured.

The letter, dated May 6 requested the Chairperson to constitute an independent expert committee and send them to Tawang valley for investigation of the whole incident including role of police officials and politicians. It further called for a permanent commission to monitor the alleged violation of human rights in hydro power projects throughout the country and be a mandatory party of all the public hearings held to do social and environmental impact assessment required for these projects.

On May 2, two people were killed and many injured, while protesting against the arrest of Lama Lobsang Gyatso, one of the most vocal opponents of hydropower projects in Tawang.

“Our experience from struggles against the big dams have shown that, when world over the big dams are being done away with, it is extremely unfortute that we are still trying to harness the hydro power in the most environmentally sensitive regions, earthquake prone regions or in densely populated areas, displacing massive populations” it said.

“In North East public hearings have been a complete hogwash and based on half-baked and unscientifically conducted environmental Impact assessment keeping communities often in the dark. The overall planning of hydro development in the State and Himalayan region needs a thorough examition keeping in mind the people’s interest first, until then put a moratorium on the planned projects”, the letter to the NHRC read.

The sigtories include Medha Patkar, Madhuresh Kumar, Bilal Khan, Vimal Bhai and Amit Kumar.