KSU activists take out a procession from their central body office at Jaiaw to the public rally venue at Motphran in protest against the MUA Cabinet's decision on uranium mining in city on Tuesday. (ST)
8 October 2009
Protest against uranium mining project intensifies, KSU vows to stick to its stand
SHILLONG, October 8, 2009: Intensifying its protests against the State Cabinet’s decision on pre-project development programmes of UCIL as well as the proposed mining of uranium, KSU has warned the Centre not to bulldoze its way through in implementing the project.
The KSU vowed that the anti-uranium groups would not budge from its stated position on the pre-project development package of UCIL and would continue to contest the government’s decision which they termed as “dreaded and against the voice of the majority.”
Addressing a public rally at Motphran attended by thousands of people, KSU president Samuel B Jyrwa said in the name of development the State government through its Cabinet attempted to fool the people and tried to cover up the ill effects of uranium mining and the impact of radiation by claiming that UCIL would start the first-phase Rs 209 crore pre-project development programmes within the areas of 422 sq hectare which has nothing to be linked with to actual mining of uranium.
Mr Jyrwa said the stand of the union to oppose the Cabinet decision on pre-project activities had been substantiated within no time as the Chief Minister DD Lapang himself had made it clear that under the first-phase project, UCIL would develop infrastructure only within the 422 sq hectares of the uranium rich areas around Mawthabah which would ultimately facilitate uranium mining in the second phase.
Terming Mr Lapang’s statement as ‘childish and irresponsible’ when he expressed his apprehension that the Centre might forcefully mine uranium from the State, the KSU leader cautioned the Centre to desist from applying force in order to materialise its plan to mine the ore from the State.
“India is a democratic country and the Centre cannot adopt such a policy. However if the Centre wishes to adopt forceful means to pave the way for uranium mining by jeopardizing the rights of the minority indigenous people here in the name of national interest, we will be forced to declare that the Hynniewtrep land is no longer part of India,” Mr Jyrwa asserted.
Mr Jyrwa said the Hynniewtrep land was tagged with India based on the Instrument of Accession.
Urging the public to extend support and jointly fight against uranium mining for the interests of the present and upcoming generations, Mr Jyrwa vowed that the KSU would not rest until it succeeded in its mission. The Union said it would meet in the coming days to decide its future course of action.
Other speakers who spoke in the rally include HSPDP leader Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, KSU general secretary Hamletson Dohling, Fenella L Nonglait, Langrin Youth Welfare Association (LYWA) president BS Lyngdoh and KWWADA general secretary Nebi Rapthap.
All the speakers slammed the government decision to roll out the Rs 209 crore pre-project development programmes to be implemented by UCIL saying that the pre-project would not mean development for the people of the area but only to facilitate mining of uranium by UCIL.
The HSPDP leader (Mr Lyngdoh) urged youth and the public to firmly stand in opposing the move of the government to allow UCIL to mine uranium from the State.
Speakers also cited the ill effects of uranium mining as witnessed in Jadugoda (Jharkhand) and other parts of the world and said that till now none of the scientists could guarantee that radiation emanating from uranium would not pose health hazards.
They also called upon the State and the Central government to respect the voice of the majority especially as expressed during the public hearing on uranium at Nongbah Jynrin on June 12, 2007 where 75 percent of the people residing around uranium areas of West Khasi Hills had strongly aired their voice to oppose uranium mining.
Speakers also appreciated Nongkrem MLA Ardent M Basaiawmoit for visiting villages close to the uranium-mining site of Jadugoda along with journalists from Shillong who exposed the negative impact of uranium mining.
Earlier before the rally, thousands of KSU activists took out a procession from KSU office, Jaiaw and culminated at the venue for the public rally.
The rally passed off peacefully amid tight security with police personnel deployed in various junctions of the city roads including the commercial areas of Motphran.
http://zolengthe.net/2009/10/08/protest-against-uranium-mining-project-intensifies-ksu-vows-to-stick-to-its-stand/
8 October 2009
Protest against uranium mining project intensifies, KSU vows to stick to its stand
SHILLONG, October 8, 2009: Intensifying its protests against the State Cabinet’s decision on pre-project development programmes of UCIL as well as the proposed mining of uranium, KSU has warned the Centre not to bulldoze its way through in implementing the project.
The KSU vowed that the anti-uranium groups would not budge from its stated position on the pre-project development package of UCIL and would continue to contest the government’s decision which they termed as “dreaded and against the voice of the majority.”
Addressing a public rally at Motphran attended by thousands of people, KSU president Samuel B Jyrwa said in the name of development the State government through its Cabinet attempted to fool the people and tried to cover up the ill effects of uranium mining and the impact of radiation by claiming that UCIL would start the first-phase Rs 209 crore pre-project development programmes within the areas of 422 sq hectare which has nothing to be linked with to actual mining of uranium.
Mr Jyrwa said the stand of the union to oppose the Cabinet decision on pre-project activities had been substantiated within no time as the Chief Minister DD Lapang himself had made it clear that under the first-phase project, UCIL would develop infrastructure only within the 422 sq hectares of the uranium rich areas around Mawthabah which would ultimately facilitate uranium mining in the second phase.
Terming Mr Lapang’s statement as ‘childish and irresponsible’ when he expressed his apprehension that the Centre might forcefully mine uranium from the State, the KSU leader cautioned the Centre to desist from applying force in order to materialise its plan to mine the ore from the State.
“India is a democratic country and the Centre cannot adopt such a policy. However if the Centre wishes to adopt forceful means to pave the way for uranium mining by jeopardizing the rights of the minority indigenous people here in the name of national interest, we will be forced to declare that the Hynniewtrep land is no longer part of India,” Mr Jyrwa asserted.
Mr Jyrwa said the Hynniewtrep land was tagged with India based on the Instrument of Accession.
Urging the public to extend support and jointly fight against uranium mining for the interests of the present and upcoming generations, Mr Jyrwa vowed that the KSU would not rest until it succeeded in its mission. The Union said it would meet in the coming days to decide its future course of action.
Other speakers who spoke in the rally include HSPDP leader Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, KSU general secretary Hamletson Dohling, Fenella L Nonglait, Langrin Youth Welfare Association (LYWA) president BS Lyngdoh and KWWADA general secretary Nebi Rapthap.
All the speakers slammed the government decision to roll out the Rs 209 crore pre-project development programmes to be implemented by UCIL saying that the pre-project would not mean development for the people of the area but only to facilitate mining of uranium by UCIL.
The HSPDP leader (Mr Lyngdoh) urged youth and the public to firmly stand in opposing the move of the government to allow UCIL to mine uranium from the State.
Speakers also cited the ill effects of uranium mining as witnessed in Jadugoda (Jharkhand) and other parts of the world and said that till now none of the scientists could guarantee that radiation emanating from uranium would not pose health hazards.
They also called upon the State and the Central government to respect the voice of the majority especially as expressed during the public hearing on uranium at Nongbah Jynrin on June 12, 2007 where 75 percent of the people residing around uranium areas of West Khasi Hills had strongly aired their voice to oppose uranium mining.
Speakers also appreciated Nongkrem MLA Ardent M Basaiawmoit for visiting villages close to the uranium-mining site of Jadugoda along with journalists from Shillong who exposed the negative impact of uranium mining.
Earlier before the rally, thousands of KSU activists took out a procession from KSU office, Jaiaw and culminated at the venue for the public rally.
The rally passed off peacefully amid tight security with police personnel deployed in various junctions of the city roads including the commercial areas of Motphran.
http://zolengthe.net/2009/10/08/protest-against-uranium-mining-project-intensifies-ksu-vows-to-stick-to-its-stand/
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