KHADC wants UNDRIP to protect indigenous people from ‘environmental refugees’ from Bangladesh

Shillong, Nov 21: Supporting the demand to erect the Indo-Bangla border fencing from zero line, the KHADC has decided to seek the Centre’s intervention to protect the rights of indigenous under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as Meghalaya is facing the danger of ‘environmental refugees’ from Bangladesh.

Replying to a discussion on the motion moved by Nongskhen MDC, Grace Mary Kharpuri on the second day of winter session, KHADC chief HS Shylla said, “The border fence should be erected from zero line and the government should show its respect by obtaining the NOC from the Council before taking up the project.”

Shylla also said that the border residents have stated that they would lose about 579 acres of land.

Stating that there are apprehensions among the border residents that they lose huge tract of land if the fence is allowed at 150 yards away from the zero line, Shylla said that if the fence is not erected, there is threat that illegal immigrants would enter via the porous border.

“However the real danger is the refugees as the neighbouring Bangladesh is facing the risk of being submerged due to the rise in sea level. Therefore the indigenous people should be protected from environmental refugees from Bangladesh, and we should be exempted from the 1951 refugee convention and protocol 1967 since Meghalaya is at the risk of facing the real threat from Bangladeshi refugees due to global warming,” Shylla observed.

He said that the KHADC would write to the state government to take up the matter with the Centre to urge the United Nations (UN) so that the indigenous population is protected from ‘environmental refugees.’

While moving the motion, Kharpuri had earlier said that as the leader who represents the people residing along the international border, she felt it necessary for the Executive Committee to intervene as the issue is affecting the people and their land.

“The KHADC should intervene to ensure proper demarcation of boundary is done before allowing the border fence to come up,” Kharpuri said while demanding that the fence should be from the zero line.

Kharpuri also said that if the border fencing is allowed at 150 yards away from the zero line, people residing along the international border will lose over 3,000 acres of land.

Quoting the 1975 Indo-Bangladesh Border agreement, Kharpuri said, “this agreement has stated that for so long, the permanent boundary between India and Bangladesh is not yet demarcated. The present pillars will stay as working pillars till permanent pillars are executed after proper consultation with the local land owners and stakeholders.”

Expressing surprise that the border fencing has been done without obtaining the NOC from the KHADC, the MDC said the CEM should also take up the matter.

Kharpuri further demanded an enquiry to inquire as to why the fencing work which should have been taken up by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) was allegedly allowed to give sub-contract to others.

“The state government is doing just to please somebody by trampling upon the rights of the people and their land. I came to know that the work has been given to Rocky Dhar (brother of a minister),” she alleged.

Former KHADC chief and Mawsynram MDC, Pynshngaiñlang N. Syiem that it is high time that the provisions of the Sixth Schedule are used on the matter. He said that the district council should write to the state government that erecting of border fencing will not be allowed without getting the NOC from the Council.