Alo Libang appeals Buddhist and Simong communities to maintain peace and harmony

ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Nov 5: In the wake of speculations and allegations doing the rounds on social media following the burning down of a log cabin Gonpa in Tuting, Upper Siang district, the Eko Dumbing Forest Development Society (EDFDS) on Friday while condemning the incident termed it ‘disturbing’ and urged netizens to be responsible and refrain from rumour mongering.
 “There are rumours and allegations on social media blaming the Simong community for the incident. The allegations are damaging the image of the peace-loving people and Upper Siang district as a whole,” the Society said, calling the allegations ‘baseless and fabricated leveled by few with vested interest.’
“Culprits do not belong to any community, whoever is responsible behind the incident should be punished as per the law but one should not blame a particular community,” it said. According to EDFDS, the place where the incident occurred is called Eko Dumbing and falls under the Simong community of Adi tribe, which the Memba/Khamba communities call as Riutala or Riwotala.

Eko Dumbing is a sacred place with religious value for the Simong community and people of the village offer prayers here every four years and also celebrate a religious festival called ‘Jihang’. Eko Dumbing area was never a disputed land, as the Memba and Khamba communities living in the vicinity sought permission from the Simong community elders to offer prayers which it agreed as the ownership of land was never disputed, the Society said.
It further claimed that in August 2021, the Simong community people found three structures including a small log cabin Gonpa erected in the area without knowledge of the community.  The structures were built in the area where Simong people offer rituals before collecting medicinal wild herbs. The illegal structures erected by the Buddhist community had hurt the religious sentiment of the Simong community and subsequent notice was served to them to remove the structures which the Buddhist community refused.
Simong community agreed to the terms placed by the Deputy Commissioner Upper Siang for shifting of the Gonpa to an alternate site to resolve the dispute amicably.  However, in the meantime the incident of alleged torching occurred which derailed the entire peaceful resolution process.
Speaking to this daily, Health and Family Welfare Minister Alo Libang appealed to both the Buddhist and Simong communities to maintain peace and harmony and refrain from provoking the situation without knowing the ground situation. 
Libang who is the local MLA said, “Without knowing the ground reality, I appeal to the people of both communities to refrain from giving provocative statements as it would escalate the situation.”
The minister also appealed to the non-native people of both communities to stop interfering on the issue and instead help in resolving the matter peacefully.  
The district police sources have informed that the situation is under control and the matter is currently under investigation.

Society to hold organize  candlelight march, appeals  for early arrest of culprits

ITANAGAR: The Chime Yangsang Pemakod Welfare Society, Tuting, while condemning the arson, appealed for the early arrest of the culprits.
“FIR on the incident was lodged on October 28 at the nearest Police station and a case registered at Yingkiong Police station on 29th October. Almost 10 days have passed since the FIR but not a single culprit has been booked or arrested till now. We appeal to the district administration, superintendent of police Yingkiong and state government for the early arrest of the culprit,” said Michung Khamba, President of the Chime Yangsang Pemakod Welfare Society, Tuting.
Riwotala is one of the sacred places for the Pemakod people. I on behalf of members of Chime Yangsang Pemakod Welfare Society Tuting strongly condemn such an inhuman and uncivilised act. Such heinous destruction of Gonpa shows danger not only for the religion but it will be a great threat for humanity in the near future. People of Pemakod, Tuting believed that Riwotala Mountain is the abode of Avalokiteshvar. From our forefather’s time, we have been visiting the holy place as pilgrims despite hardships on the way. Arson of Gonpa at this holy place has immensely hurt the religious sentiment of our people and we appeal at all levels for  justice, Khamba said.
The Society has decided to hold a peaceful candlelight march in the Itanagar capital complex on November 8.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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