Shillong, May 1: The North East Forum for Indigenous People (NEFIP) has resolved to demand the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in all the North Eastern states.

This is one of the resolutions adopted at its first meeting hosted by the Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) at the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by 90 delegates belonging to different organisations of the region which include the Manipur People against CAB (MANPAC) and Joint Committee for Prevention of Illegal Immigrants (JCPI) from Nagaland.

“We will discuss and accordingly approach the Government of India as implementation of the UNDRIP will further safeguard the rights and interest of the indigenous people,” NEFIP convenor Ningthouja Lancha told reporters.

The UNDRIP which India is a signatory defines the individual and collective rights of indigenous people including their ownership rights to cultural and ceremonial expression, identity, language, employment, health education and other issues.

It also emphasizes the rights of indigenous people to maintain and strenghten their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations.

Lancha said the total population of the indigenous people is only 1.8 crore of 5.2 crore in the NE region while adding that there are over 2 crore illegal immigrants in Assam and around 50 lakhs in Tripura. “We have become minority in our own homeland,” he lamented.

Asserting the need to collectively address the issue of illegal immigrants in the NE region, the Forum has also resolved to support all organizations demanding the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), National Register of Population (NRC) and other related influx regulations and laws in their respective states.

On the other hand, state coordinator of Nagaland, Theja Therieh informed that the NEFIP will continue to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) till the Government of India decides to stop pursuing for its implementation.

“In case the Government of India implements the Bill against our wishes, then we will be compelled to determine our own future collectively,” he said.

With regard to the BJP’s decision to bring back the CAB if voted back to power, Therieh said, the resolutions adopted by the Forum would be submitted after the formation of the new government at the Centre for its necessary intervention.