The 6th General Assemblyeral Assembly


The 6 th General Assembly of Indian Confederation of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples North East Zone (ICITP–NEZ) was organized at Rabha Hasong 6 th Schedule Demand Committee’s Conference Hall, Dudnoi, Goalpara, Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC), and Assam which was hosted by the All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU) on the 31 st of January 2008. The participants and the distinguished guests were warmly welcomed with the Rabha and Boro Traditional Cultural Expressions. Dr. R.D. Munda, Chief Adviser of ICITP and Ex Vice Chancellor of Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand was unanimously inducted as the Chair for the session. The Assembly was welcomed by Mr. Jebra Ram Muchahary, the Chief President of ICITP. In his welcome address, he mentioned about the tensed situation of NE Zone, especially in Assam. He also said that Mr. Raphael Kujur the Treasurer of the organization was currently under police custody due to recent 24 th November Beltola incident. In his support a bandh was called by All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) on the next day. He thanked Rabha leaders for taking their strong imitative to host the 6 th General Assembly of ICITP-NEZ in Dudhnoi. He appreciated the participants for attending the Assembly and urged them to contribute in the deliberation particularly for the recommendations for onward submission to the authorities and parties concerned.

As per the next agenda of the Assembly all the participants who arrived from different part of Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Jharkhand and Bhutan introduced briefly themselves one after another. They introduced themselves mentioning about their organization (MOs) to which they belong to. Then the dignitaries were facilitated by the host of the General Assembly. The facilitation was done by Mr. Tankeswar Rabha, the President of the All Rabha Students’ Union, Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC), Dudhnoi, Goalpara, Assam.

The activity reports of the ICITP-NEZ was read out by Mr. Sabda Ram Rabha, the General Secretary of the organisation. The detail report of activity was supplemented by Mr. Jebra Ram Muchahary, the Chief President of ICITP. He mentioned that Mr. Hebol Koloi, a human rights activist in Tripura was put in a jail for long time but with the effort of Dr. R. D. Munda and the Chief President, who visited his Excellency, the Governor of Tripura in February 2007, he was released and rejoined his family. He mentioned that working with Dr. Munda was always advantageous and smooth for his personal capacity and impressions.

In his deliberation, the Chief President also highlighted that the Governor of Nagaland was encouraged to assist Nagaland Children’s Home during Dr. Munda and Mr. Jebra’s visit to him in December 2006. He mentioned that this credit actually goes to Dr. R.D. Munda, which was done only because his personal close relationship with the Governor of Nagaland.

He also mentioned that the certain quarter of the Other Media, a rival organisation operating from New Delhi has been carrying out a hatred campaign against the ICITP labeling the ICITP to be the Government’s Agent. This baseless allegation was successfully removed by the North East Zonal leaderships and their strong mass supports. He further went on saying that the ICITP is the only genuine movement based civil society of India, which can understand and work effectively for the welfare of the down trodden Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the country. He also expressed hope that one day the ICITP would not only attain the United Nations consultative status but also get recognition as the advisory body to the government of India particularly in Tribal; affairs.

The financial report was read out by the Chief President since the Treasurer Mr. Raphel Kujur was not available (see annexure) which was followed by the traditional dances of the Boro and the Rabha indigenous Peoples.

As per the agenda overviews of mandates of ICITP was explained by Mr. John Jantu Soren, the National Coordinator of the ICITP, New Delhi, supplemented by Mr. Jebra Ram Muchahary, the Chief President.

Mr. John Jantu Soren explained about the mandates of the ICITP, the rules and regulations and the objectives. He informed about the mode of affiliation process of the MOs and encouraged all the tribal peoples in the region to come forward in solidarity to solve their problems under the leaderships of ICITP.

Mr. Jebra R. Muchahary facilitated the discussion on the urgent issues of IPs in the North Eastern region with the MOs present in the Assembly. He appealed the MOs present in the Assembly to share their activity reports. He also said that MOs can share their success and failure stories. Talking on peace, he said that we have fought with each other enough. A lot of conflicts occurred in the region between different ethnic groups, which have rendered thousands dead and homeless. The very objective of solidarity propagated by ICITP among different Indigenous and Tribal peoples in the country suffered a big blow by the frequent inter ethnic conflicts. It is time to concentrate working for peace and conflict resolution. He further said that unfortunately the numbers of militant groups are increasing in the North East region who are engaged themselves confronting. He said that ICITP was founded in 1987 as Indian Council of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples under the leadership of Late Professor A Kiskhu, Professor Ram Dayal Munda, Late Samar Chandra Brahma Chaudhuri and few others. He further said that one can’t do anything alone and called for the need of the groups so that as an organization it can address the issues with adequate focus. If we unite we can pressurize the government and get our legitimate rights and demands fulfilled. On the forest issues he mentioned that ICITP really took a strong step along with other allies, which forced the government of India to promulgate and introduce community based New Forest Act where Dr. Ramdayal Munda, the Chief Advisor of the ICITP became one of the Technical Support Group (TSG) member. The TSG (Technical Support Group) organized several regional consultations and came up with various recommendations for the implementation of the New Forest Act, in which ICITP played a vital role, he disclosed. He further mentioned that some of the issues of the region have been identified as urgent issues to be advocated and appealed the house to cooperate for taking up the issues with the concerned parties effectively. He said, “Rabha People’s demand for 6 th Schedule status, the Boroland issue of the Boro People and the Dimaraji of the Dimasa People and the demand for Schedule Tribes status of six different communities of Assam would be given priority in the priority action plan of the ICITP in the current year. He emphasized the house that ICITP was not some body’s pocket organization or a funding agency but a movement. He said, “ It is a movement, which is an organisation of organizations.” He continued, “ICITP is an Indigenous Peoples’ Organisation (IPO) formed by the people, for the people and of the people, working mainly for our life sustaining resources of land, Forest, Water and culture.” He regretted government’s activity of snatching life sustaining resources of the IPs. Mr. Muchahary recommended the following issues to be given priority in the current year of ICITP’s action plan for 2008-2009.

1. Boro issues;

There was lunch break at 2.30 PM and the session resumed at 3.20 PM. The Chair invited the MO leaders to talk on the critical/ critical issues of IPs in North Eastern region. The following issues were raised by various participants for recommendations:

Mr. Ananda Basumatary, a member of the All Assam Central Environment & Forest Protection, Udalguri, Assam urged the house to advocate solving the Boro issue to settle the demand of the National Democratic Front of Boroland.

Mr. Umesh Brahma, the member of Borosa Onsai Afat (BOA) expressed that though an Autonomous Council for the Boros was granted for their self rule, they have still issues of Identity Crisis, Economic Problems and Cultural domination by the dominant group of societies.

Mr. Andrias Narzary, the Advisor of Society for Aie Valley and Manas Area Road and Communication Development said that Peace and Conflict Resolution is very important idea and therefore we have to work for the over all development of the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in the region through peace. He also suggested ICITP-NEZ to carry out awareness campaigns on Peace and Development to reduce the disturbance in the region. The issue of Identity Crisis can be addressed by granting political autonomy to the different tribes in the region, he added.

Mr. Tago Duchock, a member of Arunachal Citizen Right, drew attention towards the .central government of India’s target on Arunachal Pradesh for construction of huge dams’ which will displace huge local population in the state. He also raised the serious issue of illegal migration of Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh. He further appealed the house to save the Arunachal Pradesh from Chinese claim over the land of AP.who said we are an integral part of India and would like to continue to be Indians and therefore, ICITP must act to protect the interest of the people of Arunachal Pradesh”.

Mr. K. Laldin Thara, Member of Mizo Students’ Union, invited ICITP-NEZ to organize its next programme in Mizoram to asquint the problems of Indigenous and tribal Peoples in Mizoram.

Mr. Ashikho from Nagaland appealed to unite the IPs in the region at the grass roots level rather than at the top levels. He said that the top levels are influenced by the politicians but grass roots level people are the genuine and sincere people who are normally more acceptable, tolerant and practical. Therefore, we need to organize programmes at the grass roots level, which will unite our people. He also opined that our common people are being cheated by the money power in the election. Our youths are easily lured by money and joined hands in bad politics of robbers and hooligans and so we need to protect our youths from these power thirsty politicians. If we can work starting from students, we will be able to change our lives and our society and for that we will be respected and our society will be rewarded’.

Dr. Debabrata Laifungbam Roy from CORE-Manipur said that the North East Region has been affected by HIV/AIDS and bad governance. It is time to wake up our people to remain alert in these issues. He also said that the UN declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has to be translated in to local language and it is time for us to tell the people about the meaning of it, its mandates, its significance and utility. “Self-determination – right to self-determination we lack this due to which we are in trouble today”, he said. He also spoke on the political and civil rights of Rabhas. He criticized the present MoU of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council to be lacking of territorial land rights and lack of proper definition. He also mentioned on customary laws, traditional rights of the IPs. Talking on the reported conflicts in BTC, Karbi Anglong, NC Hills and other places in the region, he said that government can never bring peace unless people and the civil societies come forward to work for peace. Dr. Roy also pointed out that good governance is the key of development and therefore we must ensure good governance by uprooting the corruption in the region. He finally said that for food security, land must be protected and a food fair or Food Mela of the North East Tribal People should be organised by the ICITP-NEZ.

The ongoing sharing of issues was halted for few minutes due to insertion of Rabha and Boro cultural dances which were performed by the local Rabha and Boro cultural groups followed by 40 minutes Press Conference in the Conference Hall itself.

Mr. S.T. Parte, President of the United Zo Indigenous People, Mizoram said that cultural and traditional knowledge were loosing in Mizoram. So cultural and traditional exchange programme be organized in Mizoram. He opined that traditional and cultural practices was loosing ground due to over influence of Christianity and Western Civilization in Mizoram.

Mr. Sanmoni Kemprai, the General Secretary of Dimasa People’s Council (DPC) expressed happiness on being affiliated in the ICITP-NEZ as a new member organization (MO). He stated that DPC needs to know more about the official procedures of the ICITP. He expressed concern that the peaceful atmosphere of proposed Dimaraji areas are disturbed by some unruly elements. He expressed hope that in active cooperation with ICITP-NEZ, the DPC would continue to contribute for solving the Dimaraji issue of the Dimasa Indigenous People. He also urged the ICITP-NEZ leaderships to educate them on their Vision, Mission, Role and Objectives in order to actively collaborate in matters that affect them directly or indirectly.

Mr. Thinley Penjore, President, Druk National Congress, representing Bhutanese people appealed the civil society and the press media to extend support and solidarity to the Bhutanese movement for democracy in Bhutan. He described the ongoing political change as a showcase to the international community and exclusive democracy with rigid rules that deprived people’s right to participate in the election equally and democratically. He said that the friendly people of northeast had since long been supportive and well-wishers to the movement, but, a step more declaring their concern officially would enhance support to the struggle and help influencing government of India. He said that India as world’s largest democracy must help Bhutan to bring about sincere and inclusive democracy in Bhutan respecting ethics and values of democracy. He specifically mentioned about the eviction of its citizens despite of their long sacrifice of blood and life in the nation building process. He said that the Gross National Happiness campaigned world over has no meaning as the large chunk of the population are in exile, and other large percentage of the people continue living in rags and hunger, fetching water from long distances. To-day, people who demand true democracy are being punished, jailed or tortured and freedom of speech or expression is absent despite seventeen years of demand for fundamental rights for the people of Bhutan. He expressed his gratitude to India for being generous in educating people in Bhutan and helping in the development of Bhutan. But in the context of the ongoing crisis, India has been neutral despite of several appeals by the people of Bhutan in struggle. He anticipated India to use their diplomatic influence on the regime to resolve the problem amicably and peacefully before things go beyond our control. He appealed ICITP, scholars, academicians and civil society to help influence government of India praising IPs of the NE for their advanced qualities of deliberations for the benefit of the people of their respective regions. He thanked ICITP and the people of the locality and the host organisation for giving him the opportunity to share his views and vision on the political situation of Bhutan.

Mr. John Jantu Soren spoke about the aspiration of Santal, Uraon, Munda etc. who are otherwise termed as tea tribes in Assam and appealed the house to support the their demands for granting ST status to them in Assam

Responding on the issues raised by Mr. John Jantu Soren on the step taken by ICITP on the scheduling issue, Mr. Jebra Ram Muchahary said that in the joint statement of ICITP and its allies they have put up the matter with the government through 23 rd session of WGIP in Geneva. He also disclosed that ICITP supported the idea of uniformity of scheduling of all the genuine tribals all over the country. He further suggested that all the tribals should come for an open discussion and then have open dialogue with each other before moving to the government. He said that all the tribes need to really come together to have an open discussion so that the demand of ST status by six different communities in Assam can be best worked out. There are more than 150 different tribes in the North East region with their distinct cultures and traditions. So far only 14 tribes are scheduled as ST in Assam. He also said that this is alarming to note that people from Bangladesh are entering to North East region unabated in huge numbers. He claimed that they are no less than 1.5 in India; the majority of them are in Assam. He lamented saying that we the tribal peoples are busy fighting each other ending up in bloodshed and patricidal killings. On the other hand the illegal migrants are intruding and encroaching our territories, grabbing our lands, destroying our natural wealth and plundering our resources. He also said that they have succeeded surpassing our population turning us minority in our own lands thereby influencing Assam politics. So it is high time for all the tribal people of the region to stand united and to face the challenges to sustain.

Mr. Tankeswar Rabha the President of the All Rabha Students Union (ARSU) spoke out about the Rabha issues. He declared that if the demand of the Rabha Indigenous People for 6 th Scheduled is opposed, certainly there will be conflict. There are cultural identity problem etc existing almost with all the community. He said that there are some organizations belonging to the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples who have opposed their demands. He regretted saying that some section of the people are sold out and they have allied themselves with illegal Muslim immigrants who have infiltrated from Bangladesh and grabbed the Rabha peoples land and settled in the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council. Mr. Tankeswar Rabha appealed the house that ICITP-NEZ should sensitize the opposing tribal groups to reconsider their stand and to cooperate in the movement of the 6 th schedule demand under the constitution of India. He also urged the government of Assam and India to come forward to open dialogue with them so that solution can be found.

Dr. R. D. Munda summarized that we are in the 8 pockets and that’s how we are divided into different states for e.g. Bhils are in Rajasthan, Gujarat in Maharastra and Madhya Pradesh. The same is with Jharkhandis as we are distributed in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal Chattisgarh and also Madhya Pradesh. So in order to address all concerning issues we need to form the body accordingly and this will be state wise body and the zone will be the coordinating body. For the betterment of functioning of ICITP the constitution also should be amended and this should not be a problem.

Mr. Jebra Ram Muchahary, the Chief President also emphasized to have body state wise of seven or nine members and thus the house agreed to have the following structure in the new body zonal level as well as state level committee:

The state level committee elections were conducted on the traditional way on the basis of consensus and the following official were elected unanimously.

ARUNACHAL PRADESH STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE

MANIPUR STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE

NAGALAND STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE

ASSAM STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE

MIZORAM STATE LEVEL COMMITTEE

The Zonal Body was formed on the basis of consensus as follows:-

1. President : Mr. Jebra Ram Muchahary, Bodoland Territorial Council, Assam

2. Vice President : Dr. Debabrata Roy Laifungbam, Manipur

3 Vice President : Mr. S.T. Parte, Mizoram

4. General Secretary : Mr. Sabda Ram Rabha, Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council, Assam

The Assembly was summed up by Dr. R. D. Munda, the Chair of the Assembly. He said that North East Zone has become strong in their shape and should do well as model to other zones. Dr. Munda said, “Most of the emerging issues have been taken up. We together have succeeded on the national and international level issues. The government of India and other friendly countries in Asia have been claiming that all are indigenous peoples and they have been denying our status as distinct group of peoples. But it is a good thing for us that they ratified UN Declaration of Indigenous Peoples Rights. With regard to forests rights, we have definitely done some changes in the mindset of the governments. But the joint forest management system is not very good for us as people do not have rights over forests in reality in that arrangement. Unless the community forest management is practiced they won’t be allowed. The government needs to know that we are the real preservers of the forest”. He also mentioned that in democracy everything is to be shared or clarified like the representative from Bhutan Mr. Thinley shared that they are starving for democracy for last two decades.

In his short summary he also shared that an ordinary farmer in USA could say that they need their own country. Some of the Hmong people asked ICITP to mediate to arrange for allotment of land in golden triangle in Thailand, who assured us to offer office premises to be shared in the UN Plaza with them. Dr. Munda informed the house that this is the impression of many people on ICITP as we have been doing many things in different levels. He also expressed hope that the ICITP can be extend to Tribal Federation in Asia if we keep on working continuously. “We can establish relationship culturally to all community throughout the world and we can reach to them heart to heart, mind to mind. We can fight the local issues continuously but more than that we can lead the whole Asia. We have intellectuals like Debashish Roy ( Bangladesh), Jasonpan ( Taiwan), Jarjum Ete ( India) etc. they are really great people, much greater than Chief Ministers or any ministers”, he added.

He further expressed his happiness for Naga young group joining the North East Zonal body. Then he thanked all the new faces that came up during Adivasi way of election and wished them good luck for the future work in solidarity for the up-liftment of the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in India.

Finally the vote of thanks was extended by Mr. Sabda Ram Rabha, the General Secretary of the ICITP-NEZ.

Resolutions adopted during the 6 th General Assembly:

 The following resolutions were adopted unanimously in the house:

 International

Resolved to extend solidarity to the struggle of the Indigenous People of Bhutan for justice, democracy and peaceful and just settlement of the refugee crisis and give sincere democracy to the people of Bhutan;

Resolved to appeal to the Governments of the South Asia Region, especially to the Government of India to use its diplomatic leverage on Bhutan for a peaceful and speedy repatriation of the Bhutanese refugee in a democratic manner;

Resolve to affirm the aims and objectives of the Federation of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Asia (FITPA);

Resolved to facilitate the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples organizations and their leaders to participate in the forthcoming United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) to beheld in April 2008 in New York, USA

National

 Resolved to extend full support to the on going Peace Process between the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and the government of India and to extend moral support for creation of Homeland for the Boro Indigenous People through peaceful dialogue;

Resolved to extend full support to the ongoing Rabha Hasong 6 th Scheduled Demand by the All Rabha Students’ Union, 6 th Scheduled Demand Committee and All Rabha Women’s Council;

Resolved to extend full and total support to the ongoing struggle of Indigenous Peoples of Manipur, Indigenous women of Manipur and Arunba Lup for repeal of the armed forces (special powers) Act 1958 and to extend solidarity to seven years Fast and Peaceful Protest by IROM Chanu Sharmila Against AFSPA 1958;

Resolved to extend full support to the ongoing Peace Process between the Dima Halim Daogah (DHD) and the government of India and to extend moral support for creation of the Dimaraji state for the Dimasa Indigenous People;

Resolved to extend support to initiate open dialogue between the sixth communities who have been demanding for Scheduled Tribes status in Assam and the local Scheduled Tribes to resolve the conflicting situations between them;

Resolved to organize a national level Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Cultural Exchange Programme/Festival for the revival of Indigenous and traditional cultures and values in the region (Venue and time to be finalized following ICITP-NEZ zone’s executive meeting);

Resolved to organize a national level Indigenous and Tribal Food Festivals in the region within 2009;

Resolved to expand and strengthen the ICITP-NEZ by identifying and affiliating at least 10 more genuine MOs in each sister states of the North Eastern Region and to set up state level offices for their smooth functioning with immediate effect;

Resolved to translate the New Forest Act and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in to local languages of the North Eastern region;

Resolved to extend full support to the Naga Reconciliation & Unification initiatives and to organize more Conflict Resolution and Peace Building and Empowerment for Self Rule/ Capacity Building Trainings in different parts of the region;

Resolved to take up the issues of dams, land, forest, water and influx of illegal migrants with the concerned authority for the protection and promotion of the interest of the Indigenous and tribal issues in the region.