Nov 14: Adi Ba Kebang United (ABKU) set four conditions before holding talks with the Arunachal Pradesh government on the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP).
In a memorandum sent to the Chief Minister on Friday, ABKU demanded the release of all those detained during the agitation, withdrawal of cases against protesters, withdrawal of central armed forces from the Siang valley and reinstatement of suspended village headmen.
ABKU president D G Tamuk and general secretary Jirbo Jamoh sent the memorandum in response to an invitation issued by the Chief Minister's Office on November 10 for talks on the project.
The organisation said it was willing to hold talks only if the demands were met within 48 hours. It proposed Pasighat as the venue for the talks.
Tamuk said there could be no talks until the government met the demands, particularly the immediate release of all detainees, including students.
He said the organisation would intensify its agitation if the demands were not met. Its protest slogan was, “No dam, no cases.”
ABKU raised concerns over the proposed 11,200 MW project, saying it could threaten the existence of indigenous communities, traditional land, homes and livelihoods in the Siang valley.
Tamuk said about 27 villages and nearly 1.5 lakh people could be affected by the project. He questioned where residents would be resettled if they had to leave their ancestral land, agricultural fields and traditional heritage.
The organisation said agriculture and horticulture were the main sources of livelihood for most people in the valley. It also appealed to organisations and people in Assam to support the agitation, claiming that the proposed dam could affect downstream areas of Assam and other regions.
