The Arunachal Pradesh government has released four protesters detained in the agitation against the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, in a move described as a goodwill gesture aimed at easing tensions in the Siang Valley and opening the way for dialogue.
Adum Tayom, Omak Paron, Okut Paloh and Oson Paron walked out of Jully Central Jail near Itanagar nearly a month after their arrest under the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2014. Their release was among the key conditions set by the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum before agreeing to talks with Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
Talks invited, but demands remain
In a letter from the Chief Minister’s Office, the government also approved the reinstatement of gaonburas and gaonburis suspended over the agitation, and urged the forum to suggest a date for a meeting with the Chief Minister and submit a list of delegates.
The government clarified that withdrawing police cases against protesters would require following the established legal process, and said the demand to withdraw Central Armed Police Forces and Rapid Action Force personnel from the region would be discussed at the proposed meeting, after considering the security situation.
The dispute at the heart of the protests
The agitation centres on opposition to the proposed 11,200-MW project, with sections of the indigenous Adi community fearing displacement, submergence of ancestral villages and damage to the environment. Protests intensified through September and October, leading to confrontations, arrests and the deployment of additional security personnel.
The Chief Minister has clarified that neither the state government nor the Centre has approved construction of the project, and that only the preparation of a pre-feasibility report is under consideration. The government has appealed to residents of Siang and Upper Siang districts to maintain peace.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu has already offered dialogue as the Siang dam protests grow, and a bandh in the Itanagar Capital Region was called off after the government offered talks. Whether the release of the four detainees is enough to bring the forum back to the table will decide the next phase of the dispute.
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