Guwahati: Asom Nagarik Sanmilan on Monday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of indigenous rights activist Pranab Doley, alleging that the Assam government had invoked the National Security Act (NSA) to suppress peaceful protests against a proposed five-star hotel project near Kaziranga National Park.
In a statement, the organisation alleged that the state government is depriving indigenous communities of their land rights and facilitating the transfer of such land to corporate groups.
It alleged that the land at Ingle Pathar near Kaziranga, traditionally occupied by indigenous residents, had been allotted to the Hyatt group for the construction of a five-star hotel without compensation to the local people. It said Doley had been leading a peaceful movement opposing the project.
The citizens’ body said Doley and several other activists were arrested in connection with the protests but were subsequently granted bail by a Golaghat court.
Referring to the court’s observations, the organisation said the court had held that the dispute stemmed from environmental degradation and its impact on the socio-cultural life of local tea tribe communities. According to the organisation, the court observed that issues relating to environmental conservation and the survival of indigenous communities can not be suppressed through criminal law and that “genuine peace and order will return to the region only when the concerns of the affected people are listened to carefully”.
It said the court had also favoured dialogue and participatory environmental governance over confrontation, while observing that members of historically marginalised communities like the tea tribe can not be expected to negotiate on an equal footing with senior officials of multinational corporations. The court had further observed that the involvement of social workers and leaders from outside the community could facilitate the resolution of the dispute, and that treating them as outsiders or troublemakers would only complicate the issue and render discussions unproductive.
The organisation alleged that despite the bail order, Doley was detained under the NSA the following day.
It also questioned the grounds cited for invoking the NSA, including references to Doley’s overseas visits. According to the statement, Doley had travelled abroad to participate in international forums, including programmes associated with the United Nations, to advocate the rights of indigenous communities.
The organisation alleged that the NSA, enacted for use in exceptional circumstances, is increasingly being invoked against those opposing government policies.
Describing the detention as “a grave injustice”, the body urged the state government to withdraw the NSA order and release Doley immediately.
The statement was issued on behalf of Asom Nagarik Sanmilan by Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, Paresh Malakar, Abdul Mannan and Santanu Borthakur.