NEW DELHI: More than 250 activists from different parts of India and diverse organisations in a signed statement initiated by the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), strongly condemned the arbitrary detention of 6 environmental activists under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for opposing projects on Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir.
The signatories called for their immediate release and withdrawal of cases filed against them, for exercising their legitimate right to raise ecological concerns.
All those detained Mohammad Abdullah Gujjar (resident of Sigdi Bhata), Noor Din (resident of Kakerwagan), Ghulam Nabi Choppan (resident of Trungi – Dachhan), Mohammad Jaffer Sheikh (resident of Nattas, Dool), and Mohammad Ramzan (resident of Dangduroo – Dachhan), trade union leaders from Kishtwar district.
Another environmental activist, Rehamatullah from Doda, who has been raising his voice against dereliction of duty and failure to recycle the waste material and garbage by the Doda Municipal Committee was also detained under PSA. He has been raising pertinent issues regarding the socio-environmental impacts of large projects and solid waste management.
Those detained persons are part of the popular opposition to hydro-power projects, the mega infrastructure being constructed on the Chenab River. They are raising their voices about the environmental impacts of mega projects on their land and people and about solid waste management in the region.
The government authorities claim that these persons were attempting to ‘obstruct projects of national importance’.
However, according to local sources from the Chenab Valley, the detained activists were voicing several specific concerns about the hydro-power projects, including infrastructure-related impacts and damages, environmental violations, and denial of compensation and rehabilitation.
The local sources allege that their houses and properties suffered severe damage due to project-related blasting and that construction work reportedly caused ‘structural integrity issues’ in nearby buildings.
According to the local sources, 22 other persons have been placed under state ‘surveillance’ and the fear is that they may also be subject to arbitrary detention or arrests.
The signatories of the NAPM memorandum called for the immediate release of the detainees and the withdrawal of all cases filed against them. “They should be allowed to exercise their legitimate right to raise ecological concerns,” the signatories stated.
“We are of the earnest view that the detention of these activists, who have only been advocating for the protection of local ecosystems, people’s democratic rights, and truly sustainable development, undermine the right to hold authorities accountable, the right to peaceful protest and community involvement in decision-making processes. It also represents a troubling misuse of power and a suppression of fundamental rights, which should alarm every citizen who believes in democracy and justice,” said the signatories in a press release.
Since the environmental activists are Kashmiri Muslims, they are soft targets of the security forces to catch them as terrorists and anti-national. The signatories supported the activists stating, “socio-ecological justice activism and raising legitimate concerns should not be mislabeled as anti-national.”
The signatories alleged, “Attempts to silence dissent by branding it as anti-national weaken the foundations of democratic governance and hinder constructive dialogue on pressing social issues. Such actions of the State undermine people’s right to hold authorities accountable, the right to peaceful protest and community involvement in decision-making processes.”
The signatories criticized the government for championing the cause of protecting the environment and attending the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference at Azerbaijan’s capital Baku (COP29), but back home it’s arresting those leading a struggle to combat climate change.
The signatories appealed to the organizers of the COP meeting to take note of the environmental defenders who have been arrested for safeguarding the climate in Jammu and Kashmir.
More than half a dozen hydro-power projects are in various stages of development on the Chenab River in the J&K part of India.
Even though there have been repeated warnings from environmentalists, geologists, and other experts about the dangers of unchecked growth of such projects, the government is going ahead with these projects undermining the ecological dimension and giving precedence to its national interests.
According to G M Bhat, a geologist at Jammu University, “Chenab Valley is located in seismic zone 4, which is extremely vulnerable to powerful earthquakes that occur regularly … The government should construct small hydroelectric projects with tiny reservoirs, the water of which can be easily controlled, rather than creating big dams,” he appealed.
The full text of the statement with all signatories:
Stop Arbitrary Detentions and Intimidation of Social & Environmental Activists in Jammu & Kashmir Save Ecology & Uphold Democratic Rights in J&K and the entire Himalayan Region
Release all detained activists immediately: Withdraw arbitrary cases
13th Nov, 2024: The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), along with other people’s organizations and concerned citizens from across India strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of social and environmental activists in Jammu & Kashmir under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Those detained under the provisions of J&K Public Safety Act, 1978, include Mohammad Abdullah Gujjar (resident of Sigdi Bhata), Noor Din (resident of Kakerwagan), Ghulam Nabi Choppan (resident of Trungi – Dachhan), Mohammad Jaffer Sheikh (resident of Nattas, Dool) and Mohammad Ramzan (resident of Dangduroo – Dachhan), trade union leaders from Kishtwar district.
The authorities claim that these persons were attempting to ‘obstruct projects of national importance’. However, according to local sources and social media posts of activists and journalists from the Chenab Valley, the detained activists were voicing several specific concerns about the hydropower projects including infrastructure-related impacts and damages, environmental violations, denial of compensation and rehabilitation etc. They also alleged that local houses and properties suffered severe damage due to project-related blasting and that construction work reportedly caused ‘structural integrity issues’ in nearby buildings. It is learnt that 22 other persons have been placed under state ‘surveillance’ and we fear that they may also be subject to arbitrary detention or arrests.
It has also been reported that another young climate activist Rehamatullah (25), from Dessa Bhatta of Doda (J&K), who has been vocal about environmental issues and was actively uncovering a solid waste management scam, has been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA). His work exposed the alleged misuse of funds and negligence in managing local waste, affecting public health and the environment. These detentions have raised concerns among local communities and environmental organizations, who view it as a suppression of environmental activism and transparency efforts.
We are of the earnest view that the detention of these activists who have only been advocating for the protection of local ecosystems, people’s democratic rights and truly sustainable development, undermine the right to hold authorities accountable, the right to peaceful protest and community involvement in decision making processes. It also represents a troubling misuse of power and a suppression of fundamental rights, which should alarm every citizen who believes in democracy and justice.
The criminalization of activism in Jammu and Kashmir, exemplified by laws such as the Public Safety Act (PSA), has systematically suppressed local voices. We must unite in support of activists, including climate justice activists, and support their well-meaning advocacy efforts in J&K. It is imperative that the new government that has been voted to power in J&K with expectations that at least some democratic rights would be upheld, must live up to this popular mandate. Even as issues and subjects of federal rights are divided between the Centre and J&K, we expect the Lieutenant Governor and the Central Government to act responsibly and refrain from high-handed interventions, as people on the ground voice legitimate concerns in a peaceful way.
It must be emphasized that popular opposition to hydro-power and mega infrastructure is not isolated to the region of Jammu & Kashmir, but is seen across the Himalayan states, given the environmental and socio-economic threats these projects pose to the region at large. Thus, clamping down on ecological movements in the region only hampers the much-needed struggle to combat the climate crisis.
NAPM strongly asserts that socio-ecological justice activism and the act of raising legitimate concerns should not be mis-labelled as “anti-national.” Attempts to silence dissent by branding it as “anti-national” weaken the foundations of democratic governance and hinder constructive dialogue on pressing social issues.
We call for the immediate and unconditional release all detainees and demand that the PSA, and other charges against them be withdrawn. Activism and dissent are essential components of a healthy democracy, and they should be respected rather than criminalized. The authorities must instead impartially inquire into the allegations of corruption, ensure participatory socio-environmental impact assessments and prioritize ecological justice. As the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference kickstarts at Baku (COP29), we hope necessary attention would be paid to environmental defenders back home, safeguarding ecology at great risk.
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