Imphal, December 06 2008: THE NAGA People's Movement for Human Rights, South Sector (NPMHR-South) has expressed deep concern over the approach of Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi to increase the number of security forces personnel at the construction site of Mapithel Dam (Thoubal Multipurpose Project) to solve the problems associated with the constructionsof the dam.

The NPMHR-south maintained that increasing military forces in and around the dam was not the solution.

S Phamhring, convenor of NPMHR-south sector, observed that increasing military forces at the dam site especially after the incident where five workers of the dam were killed was not the solution.

Further expressing concern of the NPMHR over the statement of the Chief Minister for more security at the dam site, the NPMHR convenor maintained that the approach of using security forces, threats and intimidation in the construction of Mapithel Dam was myopic at best.

While maintaining further that increased of military forces at the dam site was not the solution, the NPMHR pointed out that instead of bringing a solution, 'militarisation' was a problem in itself which could eventually create more problems.

The human rights movement further pointed out that militarisation of the area had resulted in the regular violation and curtailment of fundamental rights of citizens living around the dam site which is against all the views and principles of a democratic state.

In this regards, the NPMHR has called upon the government of the state to reconsider the deployment of more security forces personnel and also to keep a tight check on the illegal activities of the security forces.

The human rights body also urged the state government to review the construction of the Mapithel Dam as demanded by the affected villages.

The NPMHR also expressed serious concern over the 'illegal detention' of people from Louphong village during combing operations conducted by security forces on the night of December 5-6.Stating that it clearly violates the fundamental rights of citizens, the rights body also pointed out that the 'illegal detention' breaches the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India for security forces in their conduct of combing operations, search and detention in "NPMHR vs Union of India".

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