India government arrests and muzzles Indigenous anti-dam activists

The Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI) expresses its grave concern over the infringement on the fundamental rights and freedoms of Indigenous activists in Arunachal Pradesh. Protesting and calling for “No More Dams” is an exercise of the freedom of expression enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other human rights instruments. It is alarming that expressing concern over business-driven mega-dams that have potentially harmful impacts on the land, life, territories, and resources of Indigenous Peoples is being treated as a criminal act.

On July 8, 2024, the police of Arunachal Pradesh arrested, detained and muzzled Indigenous anti-dam activists as the state welcomed the union power minister. Ebo Mili, an Indigenous lawyer and a prominent anti-dam activist together with Dunge Apang, convenor of the Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF) were picked up and held for more than 10 hours. They were released after being forced to sign an agreement to not engage in protest or any activities that would “breach the peace”. The signed agreement was titled, “Bond to Keep the Peace”. Breaking the said agreement will cost the two 50,000 rupees.

The two activists were supposed to hand over the position paper of SIFF, Dibang Resistance, and Northeast Human Rights (NEHR) regarding the issue of hydropower dams to the Union Power Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar at the Itanagar Secretariat. However, before the meeting could take place, the Itanagar Police summoned and detained them at a police station in the state capital. Colleagues and friends of  Mili and Apang alleged the authorities of harassing them unnecessarily by curtailing their democratic right to stage a peaceful protest.

Arunachal Pradesh based organizations such as the SIFF, Dibang Resistance and the NEHR are concerned about mega dams planned to be built in the area. They wanted to submit a presentation to the Power Minister of India, urging the Ministry to reconsider its stance on pushing more dams in the state. Furthermore, they are appealing to the Government of India to amend the Arunachal Pradesh State Hydropower Policy 2008 to better serve the interests of the people of the state, rather than those of transnational corporations and profit-oriented companies. Their position further stated, “instead of mega projects, the Indian government should explore alternative energy solutions that align with the state’s unique ecological context”.

Concerns over mega dams in Arunachal Pradesh intensified following the central government's approval of the 2,880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project, 3,097 MW Etalin hydropower project, and the 11,000 MW Siang Multipurpose storage proect. The Idu-Mishmi and other communities have staged numerous protests, voicing their opposition to the projects.

Ebo Mili hails from the Indigenous Idu-Mishmi community and this is his third arrest for his anti-dam campaign. He was first arrested on March 28, 2022 along with popular graffiti artist and illustrator Neelim Mahanta.[1] The two had been arrested for painting the words “No more dams” and a clenched fist on the boundary wall of the state civil secretariat in Itanagar. On March 29, 2022, Mili and Mahanta were released on bail and ordered by a court to repaint the section of the wall that they had painted over.[2]  They were booked under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.

On August 12, 2023 Ebo Mili, along with one Mejo Mihu were detained by the police for staging a peaceful protest outside a banquet hall in Itanagar, where the government was engaged in signing memoranda of understanding (MoAs) with public sector undertakings (PSUs) to unroll 12 stalled hydropower projects. They were detained while distributing pamphlets with “No More Dams” messages and public grievances, protesting the signing of memorandums of agreement (MoA) between the state government and hydropower PSUs for 12 stalled hydropower projects in Arunachal. The 12 hydro projects have a capacity of about 11,517 MW.[3]

IPRI calls for the government of India to guarantee that they will not be arrested again for exercising their civil and political rights. Likewise, the government of India should address their legitimate demands in relation to the hydropower projects and ensure the respect and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples.

[1].   “Lawyer, artist arrested for ‘defacing’ govt mural in Arunachal with anti-dam message”, Indian Express, March 28, 2022, https://tinyurl.com/4fxmr2h4

[2]. ‘No more dams’: A protest message painted on an Itanagar wall is making some artists see red, Scroll, July 12, 2022, https://tinyurl.com/2nm3eeu6

[3]. “Anti-dam activist Ebo Mili prevented from staging peaceful protest; forced to sign bond”, Arunachal Times, 13 August 2023, https://tinyurl.com/mr2c75pc