Guwahati: The Adi Bane Kebang United (ABKU), a leading organisation of the Adi tribe spearheading the anti-Siang dam movement in Arunachal Pradesh, has agreed to CM Pema Khandu’s offer of talks on the proposed 11,200 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), but has introduced a condition – all detainees must be released within 48 hours and all criminal cases against them withdrawn.In a letter to the CM’s office on Friday, ABKU said it was willing to participate in the proposed dialogue in Pasighat only if the demands were met. The organisation said those detained in connection with the anti-dam agitation were not criminals but ordinary people opposing the project without their consent.“We are willing to join the talks on the issues of SUMP, but on the condition that all persons detained in connection with the Siang dam agitation be released within 48 hours and all false criminal charges against them be withdrawn,” ABKU president Dijhi Tamuk and general secretary Jirbo Jamoh said in the letter.Defending those apprehended in connection with the agitation, ABKU said the detainees were “neither criminals nor anti-social elements but common people” raising their voices against what it described as forceful pre-feasibility report activities and the proposed construction of an 11,200 MW dam in Upper Siang without their consent.ABKU spokesperson Datik Ratan said the decision to agree to talks, subject to the preconditions, was taken after consultations with the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum (SIFF) and the SUMP Affected Area Youth Association (SAAYA), the other two major groups spearheading the anti-dam movement. Pasighat, where ABKU is headquartered, has been proposed as the venue for the meeting.The organisation’s response came amid continued protests and bandh calls since October over the proposed pre-feasibility report study for the project. Khandu has repeatedly appealed to ABKU, SIFF and SAAYA to come forward for dialogue to break the deadlock, saying the immediate priority was the PFR, not construction of the dam. He has also said the project would not be built against the wishes of the people.On Thursday, Khandu renewed his appeal to the protesting groups, saying he was ready to travel to any place of their choice to discuss the project. His office had formally written to the ABKU president on Wednesday, inviting the organisation for talks.The appeal came amid heightened tensions following recent remarks by Tapir Gao, BJP MP from Arunachal East, that the proposed dam on Siang would be built anyway. The remarks further angered anti-dam groups.The proposed 11,200 MW SUMP is planned in the Siang Valley and is being projected by the Centre as a strategic project in response to China’s proposed 60,000 MW hydropower project upstream, across the Line of Actual Control.Anti-dam groups fear that the project could displace families living along the Siang belt and threaten the Adi community’s civilisation and traditional way of life, which has evolved along the river. The Adi community reveres Siang as Ane Siang, or Mother Siang.In its letter, ABKU also referred to the Oct 23 violence in Pasighat, alleging that it was triggered by police action against protesters. The organisation described the violence as “an outcome of the provocation by the police force against peaceful youths”.“The police fired stun grenades at peaceful boys and girls, which led to the violence,” the letter said.Pasighat, the headquarters of East Siang district, witnessed violent protests allegedly involving Gen Z protesters. During the unrest, the office of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), the central govt agency associated with the proposed project, was set ablaze. The residences of Arunachal Pradesh BJP president Kaling Moyong and MLAs Ninong Ering and Oni Panyang were also attacked on the night of Oct 23.The violence led to several arrests, including the detention of minor students who were sent to a juvenile home. Subsequently, more than 30 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, including Rapid Action Force, were deployed across the Siang belt.
