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Honorable,
Honorable Sirs
Today, India and Burma have seen respectively 58 and 57 anniversaries of independence
from the British colonial rule, which lasted for a bout 200 years. This infact gives the
people of India such constitution granted-a real freedom, to make all possible afford in
venturing and exploring the available resources for all round developments in the field of
economics, science and technology that India has been elevated to self sufficiency.
POST-INDEPENDENT BURMA:
As the liberators wished, Burma, after independence in 1948, was governed by people’s
elected parliament for 14 years only. Until Gen. Newin ordered the army, to effect coup-
de-tat in 1962, from the then Prime Minister U.Nu- lead parliament. Since then, the
wished, vision, hope of the people vanished and their plight jeopardized. One of the
flourished nations in South East Asia, during early post independent era, has today been
listed among the poorest nation of the world. The state’s national expenditure on military
maintenance is more than 44%of the budget. Perhaps, the military Junta leaves no stone
unturned to stay on in power. Such deplorable state of the people inside Burma is better
understood by many nation and best known to India.
HUMANITARIAN ATTENDANCE:
When in such help-needy-situation, desirably, to condole the helpless, we have
witnessed, some other people coming forward to attend to it. In Yugoslavia, East Timor,
Indonesia, Afghanistan and Iraq the crying people were responded to and have been
rescued by the UNO, USA, UK, EU, Japan, etc.UN stands for, guarantees and protects
fundamental human rights and takes necessary and appropriate action upon governments
violating it.
MANPOWER EXPLOITATION:
The Kukis are oppressed to the worst and are subjected to forced labour for more than
half of the days in a year that they have no enough time to work their field. The type of
works, the Kukis have been forced to do without wage, includes- road construction,
digging trenches and periodical cleaning of the compounds of army and police barracks,
erection of electric posts, pottery, working the paddy fields of army and police outpost
officers, and so on.
The effect of this large-scale deforestation is devastating. The area has looked almost
treeless. Many animal and bird species that were found before have extinct due to
destruction of their habitant. The climate has changed. The Kukis are really shocked to
see their thick, lively and beautiful forest cleared off much against their will.
WATER RESOURCE EXPLOITION:
Now comes the turn for exploitation of water resource. As a signatory in the “world
commission on Dam (WCD)”, SPDC should show respect, commitment and observe the
WCD’s recommendation. Accordingly, any proposed construction of dam must fulfill the
following five points.
To sum up briefly:
(a) For restoration of democracy in Burma at the earliest date possible.
(b) For empathy and sympathy upon the captives in the hands of SPDC.
(c) For the sake of India’s dignity and honour as the largest democratic nation –
committed to export of democratic ideology.
(d) For protection, security and due rights of indigenous ethnic Kukis of Burma.
(e) To proof India’s courage to handle global issue as responsible international
leadership.
(f) For global environmental concern..
(g) To save and protect the endangered wild animals species from extinction due to
flooding.
(h) To prevent the local Kuki people’s more than 35 villages and agricultural land area
measuring 17,000 acres from destruction by flooding water.
We the Anti Thanmanti Dam Campaign Committee, formed by the Kuki students
Democratic front (KSDF) Burma, Kuki Women Human Rights Organization (KWHRO)
and Regional Kuki individuals, bow down and make our humble demand before you: the
honorable Prime Minister-Dr. Manmohan Singh, Home Minister- Shri Shivraj Patil,
Power Minister- Shri P.M Sayeed, Environmental Minister- Shri A. Raja, Minister of
Tribal Affairs- Shri P.R Kyudiah, Chairman and Managing Director of NHPC- Shri
Yogendra Prasad to totally withdraw support for the Indigenous- blood- sucking, worst
enemy of democracy, barbaric and illegitimate regime- SPDC of Burma in the propose
construction of Thanmanti Hydroelectric power project on Chindwin river at leivomjang
village instantly.
In case GOI remains heedless and adamant to our demand, and in determined to go ahead
with the Thamanti hydro electric power project, our alternative or secondary demand
is that the GOI must ensure –
(a) Equitable resettlement program for the would-be affected 35 kuki villages with
adequate compensation.
(b) Adequate compensation to the would be destroyed 17,000 acres agricultural lands,
(c) Effective environmental mitigation.
(d) Total avoidance of forced labour.
(e) Fair sharing of the benefits between the GOI, SPDC, NHPC and the effected Kuki
communities.
Our thankfulness over all of you and the UPA Government of India for your considerate
response will ever remain in our Kuki history.
Waiting for your prompt response,
Yours sincerely,
Anti-Thamanti Dam Campaign committee