Promise deferred is promise denied

We can understand only too well the frustration of indigenous groups whose repeated pleas for full implementation of the CHT Peace Accord seem to have fallen on deaf years of successive governments. Instead of peace, the region is now embroiled in increasing human rights violations, land occupation and communal conflicts. It is unacceptable that more than 17 years since the Accord was signed by the then AL government, we are still writing to demand that the provisions of the accord be implemented fully.

Seventeen years on, some of the most basic demands of the Accord are yet to be addressed. The CHT Land Dispute Commission still does not have any real power to resolve land-related disputes and ensure the rights of the indigenous population over their land. The district councils, too, remain ineffective as no elections have been held for the last 20 years. The accord stipulated that the government withdraw all temporary military camps and all but six cantonments from the region, which it has not done.

The Home Ministry directives issued in February, which severely curtail freedom of speech, assembly and movement of adivasis, have made the situation in the region even tenser.

We cannot help but wonder if the government is at all sincere about keeping its pledges made to the indigenous people and the country at large. We urge the government to declare a specific timeline for the implementation of the Accord and assure the indigenous people of their commitment to establishing peace in the region.