JHPC members to meet in Itanagar for talks on the Chakma-Hajong issues

The much awaited second Joint High Power Committee (JHPC) meeting will be held at Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh on 26 October 2012. Initially, the JHPC was supposed to hold its second meeting on 11 October. But the meeting was rescheduled due to time-constrain.

The four-party committee, constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on 10 August 2010 to find a solution to the vexed Chakma-Hajong issue in Arunachal Pradesh, includes the MHA, State Government of Arunachal Pradesh, All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) and the Committee for Citizenship Rights of the Chakmas and Hajongs of Arunachal Pradesh (CCRCHAP).

Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary (North East), who is also the Chairman of the Committee, and Joint Secretary (Foreigner) will represent the Ministry of Home Affairs. The State Government of Arunachal Pradesh will be represented by R Negi, Commissioner (Home), the Secretary (Political), the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, K Riram, OSD to the Chief Minister and Deputy Commissioners of Changlang, Papumpare and Lohit. While the Arunachal Pradesh Students Union will be represented by the President, Takam Tatung, Nabam Tamar (Vice-President), Tujum Poyom (General Secretary), T. T. Tara (Legal Adviser) and Toni Pertin (Legal Adviser). The Committee for Citizenship Rights of the Chakmas and Hajongs of Arunachal Pradesh will be represented by Santosh Chakma, General Secretary, Arindam Dewan and three others.

The first meeting of the JHPC was held in January this year. It was mutually decided in the meeting that a joint survey will be conducted by the CCRCHAP and AAPSU to identify the Chakmas and Hajongs who migrated during 1964-69.