Guwahati: The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) has condemned the arrest of three anti-dam activists in Arunachal Pradesh following the recent violence in Pasighat, demanding their immediate release and an end to the alleged crackdown on the movement opposing the proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).
In a press statement, CASR identified the arrested activists as Ebo Mili, Otul Jerang and Tajong Talom. The organisation also criticised the deployment of security forces in protest areas and the reported use of tear gas and stun grenades to disperse demonstrators.
The latest arrests came amid protests on October 23, organised to demand the release of previously detained activists and the withdrawal of security personnel deployed in the region. According to CASR, the use of crowd-control measures triggered panic and further escalated tensions.
The organisation claimed that ten activists had been arrested before the latest crackdown, including four booked under the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (APUAPA) in connection with their involvement in studies related to the proposed project.
CASR alleged that the arrests and security deployment reflected an escalating pattern of repression against the anti-SUMP movement. It said the campaign raised concerns over indigenous rights, environmental protection, displacement and the future of the Siang River.
The proposed mega-dam has generated apprehensions among indigenous communities over its potential environmental, social and economic consequences. CASR argued that the government should address these concerns through democratic dialogue and public consultation rather than relying on police action and arrests.
CASR questions govt’s approach to dialogue
CASR also questioned what it described as a contradiction between the state government’s public invitation to protesting groups for talks and the continued arrests of activists.
The organisation said Chief Minister Pema Khandu had publicly invited stakeholders and protesting groups for discussions, stating that the project would not be imposed against public consensus. However, CASR alleged that the simultaneous deployment of security forces and detention of movement leaders undermined the credibility of the government’s offer.
According to the organisation, meaningful dialogue requires an end to intimidation and the release of detained activists. It maintained that communities opposing a development project have the democratic right to express their concerns and participate in decisions affecting their land, rivers, forests and livelihoods.
CASR further alleged that the action against anti-SUMP protesters reflected a wider pattern in which movements defending indigenous rights, forests and livelihoods across the Northeast were increasingly met with criminal cases and heavy security deployment.
The organisation expressed concern over the use of stringent laws against activists and said such measures could restrict the space available for democratic movements in the region.
CASR lists six demands
CASR has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Ebo Mili, Otul Jerang and Tajong Talom, along with all other activists arrested in connection with the anti-SUMP movement.
It has also called for the release of the four activists booked under APUAPA and the withdrawal of cases it described as politically motivated and fabricated.
Other demands include the withdrawal of what it termed excessive security deployment from protest areas, an end to the alleged intimidation and harassment of local communities, and an impartial investigation into the violence in Pasighat, including the reported use of tear gas and stun grenades against protesters.
The organisation has further called for an end to the criminalisation of peaceful dissent and urged the government to halt what it described as the forced imposition of the proposed project.
CASR said meaningful consultations with affected indigenous communities must form the basis of decisions concerning the SUMP, with their concerns and informed consent given due consideration.
The group urged the government to address public concerns over the project rather than treating opposition as a law-and-order problem. The organisation reiterated its calls for the release of political prisoners and an end to the militarisation of the Siang region.
CASR is a collective comprising several organisations, including the All India Revolutionary Students’ Organisation (AIRSO), Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), People’s Watch and other civil society and rights groups.