Itanagar: Two organisations have stepped in to ease tensions over the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, with the Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF) announcing a peace committee and the Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) offering to mediate talks between the Siang Indigenous Farmers Forum (SIFF) and govt.Addressing reporters on Wednesday, AITF general secretary Tapi Tai said the forum would form a high-level committee on its own initiative following recent violence in Pasighat and Geku.The peace committee, comprising representatives of different indigenous communities, will engage with stakeholders and help bridge the communication gap with affected families, he said. The AITF also opposed the heavy deployment of security personnel in Pasighat and nearby areas and urged govt to hold talks instead.Separately, the ACF told CM Pema Khandu in a representation that it was willing to facilitate preliminary talks between govt and SIFF, subject to both sides agreeing to the proposal.The ACF said the initiative should not be interpreted as support for or opposition to the project. It also asked the chief minister to nominate a govt representative to coordinate the talks.The initiatives follow protests against pre-feasibility work for the project, including clashes with security personnel at Yingkiong on Sept 30 and Uggeng on Oct 4, in which several people were injured. Govt has said the pre-feasibility exercise does not amount to approval to build the project.
