Participants from different North-East states during the 3rd General Conference of the NEIPF which concluded in Dibrugarh, on March 22.
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DIBRUGARH, MARCH 22 (MExN): The 3rd General Conference of the North East Indigenous People's Forum (NEIPF) concluded in Jokai Bon, Koibartta, Dibrugarh, on March 22. The event, held in collaboration with the Indigenous Forum Assam, brought together representatives from various civil organizations and delegates from the northeastern states to address key issues affecting the region.
A press statement issued by the NEIPF stated that the conference participants adopted the Jokai Declaration, calling for unity among the people of the North-East states to ensure lasting peace. The declaration emphasized the importance of safeguarding the rights and interests of indigenous communities and urged state governments to prioritize indigenous issues by enacting laws to protect these communities.
The NEIPF reaffirmed its commitment to the socio-cultural, economic, and political interdependence of the people in the region, stressing the need for unity despite diverse challenges. Participants expressed concern over the ongoing influx of immigrants and perceived government and corporate aggressions, recognizing these as threats to indigenous communities. The conference resolved to present the Jokai Declaration as a collective stance for survival and self-preservation.
Additionally, new office bearers were elected for the NEIPF. Anup Chetia was chosen as the Chairman, N Ibungochoubi as the Secretary General, and Khehoto Swu, Yumlam Achung, and Dundee Cliff were appointed as vice-chairmen.
Jokai Declaration
Article 1: To recommend the State chapters to create conditions for a harmonious co-existence among the people for genuine peace by transcending exclusive ideologies with the vision of inter-dependent existence of the indigenous people of the region.
Article 2: To secure the future generations of the indigenous people by documenting indigenous people’s disaggregated data base of indigenous people.
Article 3: To urge the Legislative Assemblies of all the North-Eastern states to deliberate upon the issues for safeguarding the rights and interests of the indigenous peoples of the region and enact a suitable law to open a Department on Indigenous Affairs.
