Delhi and Naypyidaw had very recently countersigned the agreement on constructing a very huge hydroelectric dam in the Chindwin River viz. Tamanthi Dam whose actual site is at Tazone-Lawayyan around 35 km away from Homalin town (Eastern Nagaland or Myanmar Occupied Nagalim), Sagiang Division. For this project Delhi is mainly involved financially and technologically, whose feasibility report was given by Switzerland’s Colenco Power Engineering, Ltd. This Hydroelectric dam is expected to produce 1, 200 MW, of which 80% will be sent to Delhi and the remaining 20% will be used in Monywa Copper Mine, Sagaing Division.
Since, the time the two governments began to commence the work in early 2007, more than 2,400 villagers from Tazone and laywayyan villages had already been displaced in coercion without a proper compensation or without any compensation from the junta government. It is estimated that the water reservoir of the dam will cover more than 1400 sq km and more than 45,000 people will be permanently displaced.
But this report seems inadequate because Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which was commissioned to look out itself complained that the team was not given sufficient time and access to survey by the junta government. So we, surveying it from the ground level, can be sure that around 100,000 people including Non-Nagas will be affected because the flood reservoir will reach up to Minsein of Khamti Township (even Khamti town itself is uncertain as measured by the experts).
The people who live along the banks of the Chindwin River, Nanteleik/Tizu/Sati River and Nawin River are 90% agrarians. The water reservoir also will reach up to Yannwe plain on the bank of the Nanteleik/Tizu/Sati River, the first tributary of the Chindwin River and Kantkodaw Naga village and Monkailin a Kuki village on the bank of Nawin River, the second tributary. Then, this statistics gives a rough view that tens of thousand acres of the agricultural land (80% agricultural land of the Nagas) will be submerged completely.
Relocation of the displaced people is also completely unfair. For instance, a man in Maungkhan village who constructed the house by spending 150 lakh Kyats (almost 10 lakh Rupees in present currency exchange rate) was informed only 15 lakh Kyats in return from the junta government. In New Tamanthi (Naga village), a Naga farmer who has 15 acres of paddy field in Set Nga Kwin was informed 150,000 Kyats in total where as the present market rate is 5 to 8 lakhs per acre. Those dislocated villages and people are not given a proper site. The junta said, all the dislocated people have to do “Kotu Kota,” which literally means “self-support” or better “self-struggle.”
The villages which are not affected by the flood reservoir are also ordered to share their properties, land, and source of income to those displaced people. Additionally, there are some more severe corollaries such as health problems, lack of education, unemployment, social problems and environmental issues viz. loss of bio-diversity and flora and fauna, soil pollution, deforestation, etc. Many of the natural resources like gold mine, teak forests and some other precious stuff will be sucked
by the Non-Nagas like Burmese, Indians and Chinese. It is a deliberate Human Rights violation, a kind of genocide committed against the innocent people and an open insult to the land owners (the Nagas) as this agreement is sorted out without the consent of the Nagas and people there.
The leaders in Eastern Nagaland (Myanmar Occupied Nagalim) are picked-ups and mouthpiece of the junta and they keep mum and even stay in line with the junta as though nothing is going wrong, which in reality is deadly! The Thein Sein government is blowing the trumpet of democracy in Naypyidaw but the actual ground proves their claim to be a lie STILL and the double standard of the junta is so clearly seen. To mention more, the junta government is still practicing Human Rights violation, religious exploitation, structural violence and force labor on the Nagas in Eastern Nagaland.
Therefore, it is our humble request to our brothers (DAN, NPMHR, NBCC, NSCNs, Senior Citizens, Naga Hoho, NSF and many other Naga organizations) in India to reach out to us in every possible way and to uphold us by raising voice against Delhi to stop helping of the junta in materializing this heinous project and to let review the LOOK EAST POLICY of Delhi. Thank you and God bless you all. Kuknalim!
Since, the time the two governments began to commence the work in early 2007, more than 2,400 villagers from Tazone and laywayyan villages had already been displaced in coercion without a proper compensation or without any compensation from the junta government. It is estimated that the water reservoir of the dam will cover more than 1400 sq km and more than 45,000 people will be permanently displaced.
But this report seems inadequate because Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which was commissioned to look out itself complained that the team was not given sufficient time and access to survey by the junta government. So we, surveying it from the ground level, can be sure that around 100,000 people including Non-Nagas will be affected because the flood reservoir will reach up to Minsein of Khamti Township (even Khamti town itself is uncertain as measured by the experts).
The people who live along the banks of the Chindwin River, Nanteleik/Tizu/Sati River and Nawin River are 90% agrarians. The water reservoir also will reach up to Yannwe plain on the bank of the Nanteleik/Tizu/Sati River, the first tributary of the Chindwin River and Kantkodaw Naga village and Monkailin a Kuki village on the bank of Nawin River, the second tributary. Then, this statistics gives a rough view that tens of thousand acres of the agricultural land (80% agricultural land of the Nagas) will be submerged completely.
Relocation of the displaced people is also completely unfair. For instance, a man in Maungkhan village who constructed the house by spending 150 lakh Kyats (almost 10 lakh Rupees in present currency exchange rate) was informed only 15 lakh Kyats in return from the junta government. In New Tamanthi (Naga village), a Naga farmer who has 15 acres of paddy field in Set Nga Kwin was informed 150,000 Kyats in total where as the present market rate is 5 to 8 lakhs per acre. Those dislocated villages and people are not given a proper site. The junta said, all the dislocated people have to do “Kotu Kota,” which literally means “self-support” or better “self-struggle.”
The villages which are not affected by the flood reservoir are also ordered to share their properties, land, and source of income to those displaced people. Additionally, there are some more severe corollaries such as health problems, lack of education, unemployment, social problems and environmental issues viz. loss of bio-diversity and flora and fauna, soil pollution, deforestation, etc. Many of the natural resources like gold mine, teak forests and some other precious stuff will be sucked
by the Non-Nagas like Burmese, Indians and Chinese. It is a deliberate Human Rights violation, a kind of genocide committed against the innocent people and an open insult to the land owners (the Nagas) as this agreement is sorted out without the consent of the Nagas and people there.
The leaders in Eastern Nagaland (Myanmar Occupied Nagalim) are picked-ups and mouthpiece of the junta and they keep mum and even stay in line with the junta as though nothing is going wrong, which in reality is deadly! The Thein Sein government is blowing the trumpet of democracy in Naypyidaw but the actual ground proves their claim to be a lie STILL and the double standard of the junta is so clearly seen. To mention more, the junta government is still practicing Human Rights violation, religious exploitation, structural violence and force labor on the Nagas in Eastern Nagaland.
Therefore, it is our humble request to our brothers (DAN, NPMHR, NBCC, NSCNs, Senior Citizens, Naga Hoho, NSF and many other Naga organizations) in India to reach out to us in every possible way and to uphold us by raising voice against Delhi to stop helping of the junta in materializing this heinous project and to let review the LOOK EAST POLICY of Delhi. Thank you and God bless you all. Kuknalim!
A. Makury
Senior Researcher, MNLD, Thailand
