Before coming into the main point of this article I would like to clarify that this idea might sound very advanced and broad-minded or even impossible, but this is what the Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh need at this moment.
It is really heart-touching to find that while people in some parts of the world are living in the most modern age, still people (say Chakmas) in Arunachal Pradesh are living in the period of similar to 30 years backward. State Government’s serious political pressures have kept them deprived of accessing services and facilities which are necessary for the establishment of their lives. They are oppressed from opportunities to meet their fortunes. The most barbaric attitude of these bodies is – ignoring to provide citizenship to the Chakmas in this state.
In November 2013, I applied for Indian Government’s official reports regarding the issues of citizenship for the Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh. It was possible through the Right to Information (RTI Act, 2005) system that aims to bring transparency between the Government and its people. I applied online to the department of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which looks after the national issues of human rights violations.
Exactly after one month I received the report of 21 pages on my doorstep through postal service that included photocopies of the Government’s official report. It explained the Government’s official records and reviews of the human rights issues being faced by the Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh. Even after the Supreme Court and Central Government’s intervention upon this issue, the Arunachal Pradesh State Government and the AAPSU remained unmoved of their decision regarding the provision of citizenship to the Chakmas.
I solely believe that without the availability of citizenship it is not possible for any individual to establish one’s life. The most important element one needs to prove his identity is his citizenship status. If it is missing or unavailable one can hardly move forward in his life. Moreover, provision of citizenship in the form of document is absolutely compulsory for higher education and other facilities provided by a Government. Thereby citizenship should be provided to every citizen when it is recognised by the country’s highest authority, i.e. Supreme Court and the Government of India.
The absence of citizenship among the Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh has forced them to move outside of the state as their only option for survival. Most of the brilliant and academically excellent teenagers have moved to other cities to make their livings. Some of them also migrated to nearby two neighbouring states, i.e. Tripura and Mizoram. But, there are countless of Chakmas who are unable to move out of their homes to somewhere else. It is not possible for them to leave their already built and settled houses and lands in which they are inhabited.
United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) is an organisation under UNO which reviews and looks after the human rights violations committed by any group or Government over other unprivileged people in the world. Under UNHRC, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – the Article 24 “mandates special protection, the right to a name and the right to a nationality for every child”. By this, it is evident that every born Chakma child is deprived of citizenship or nationality by the Arunachal Pradesh State Government and All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU). Below are statements of two Articles under UNHRC:
Article 12 – “guarantees freedom of movement, including the right of persons to choose their residence and to leave a country. These rights apply to legal aliens as well as citizens of state and can be restricted only where necessary to protect national security, public order or health and the right and freedoms of others. The article also recognises a right of people to enter their own country. The Human Rights Committee interprets the right broadly as applying not just to citizens, but also to those stripped off or denied their nationality.”
Article 24 – “mandates special protection, the right to name and the right to a national for every child.”
Now, I believe it is necessary to take a bold step by mailing a well proven evidences on violations of the above two Articles by the Arunachal Pradesh Government, and formally appeal to UNHRC for reviewing them thoroughly for taking necessary actions.
However, as the procedure provided by the UNHRC, an applicant must write a clear, detailed, accurate and relevant informative reports about the current deprived situations of the Chakma inhabitants in Arunachal Pradesh. It is possible only after conducting an observation and collecting proper information regarding the situations in the state. Overall, this report should be effective enough to convince the higher authorities working with the UNHRC.
It is really heart-touching to find that while people in some parts of the world are living in the most modern age, still people (say Chakmas) in Arunachal Pradesh are living in the period of similar to 30 years backward. State Government’s serious political pressures have kept them deprived of accessing services and facilities which are necessary for the establishment of their lives. They are oppressed from opportunities to meet their fortunes. The most barbaric attitude of these bodies is – ignoring to provide citizenship to the Chakmas in this state.
In November 2013, I applied for Indian Government’s official reports regarding the issues of citizenship for the Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh. It was possible through the Right to Information (RTI Act, 2005) system that aims to bring transparency between the Government and its people. I applied online to the department of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which looks after the national issues of human rights violations.
Exactly after one month I received the report of 21 pages on my doorstep through postal service that included photocopies of the Government’s official report. It explained the Government’s official records and reviews of the human rights issues being faced by the Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh. Even after the Supreme Court and Central Government’s intervention upon this issue, the Arunachal Pradesh State Government and the AAPSU remained unmoved of their decision regarding the provision of citizenship to the Chakmas.
I solely believe that without the availability of citizenship it is not possible for any individual to establish one’s life. The most important element one needs to prove his identity is his citizenship status. If it is missing or unavailable one can hardly move forward in his life. Moreover, provision of citizenship in the form of document is absolutely compulsory for higher education and other facilities provided by a Government. Thereby citizenship should be provided to every citizen when it is recognised by the country’s highest authority, i.e. Supreme Court and the Government of India.
The absence of citizenship among the Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh has forced them to move outside of the state as their only option for survival. Most of the brilliant and academically excellent teenagers have moved to other cities to make their livings. Some of them also migrated to nearby two neighbouring states, i.e. Tripura and Mizoram. But, there are countless of Chakmas who are unable to move out of their homes to somewhere else. It is not possible for them to leave their already built and settled houses and lands in which they are inhabited.
United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) is an organisation under UNO which reviews and looks after the human rights violations committed by any group or Government over other unprivileged people in the world. Under UNHRC, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – the Article 24 “mandates special protection, the right to a name and the right to a nationality for every child”. By this, it is evident that every born Chakma child is deprived of citizenship or nationality by the Arunachal Pradesh State Government and All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU). Below are statements of two Articles under UNHRC:
Article 12 – “guarantees freedom of movement, including the right of persons to choose their residence and to leave a country. These rights apply to legal aliens as well as citizens of state and can be restricted only where necessary to protect national security, public order or health and the right and freedoms of others. The article also recognises a right of people to enter their own country. The Human Rights Committee interprets the right broadly as applying not just to citizens, but also to those stripped off or denied their nationality.”
Article 24 – “mandates special protection, the right to name and the right to a national for every child.”
Now, I believe it is necessary to take a bold step by mailing a well proven evidences on violations of the above two Articles by the Arunachal Pradesh Government, and formally appeal to UNHRC for reviewing them thoroughly for taking necessary actions.
However, as the procedure provided by the UNHRC, an applicant must write a clear, detailed, accurate and relevant informative reports about the current deprived situations of the Chakma inhabitants in Arunachal Pradesh. It is possible only after conducting an observation and collecting proper information regarding the situations in the state. Overall, this report should be effective enough to convince the higher authorities working with the UNHRC.
