NAPM Condemns Detention of Ladakh Climate Marchers, Calls for Immediate Release and Dialogue

New Delhi- The National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and its supporters have strongly condemned the detention of nearly 200 peaceful climate marchers from Ladakh by the Delhi police.

The protesters, led by environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk, were part of the "Ladakh to Delhi Climate March," which aimed to bring attention to the environmental and socio-political challenges faced by Ladakh and the broader Himalayan region. The detention took place as the marchers approached Delhi's Singhu border on the night of September 30.

In a statement issued today, NAPM members expressed full solidarity with the marchers and reiterated support for their legitimate demands to safeguard Ladakh and the Himalayas from "destructive developments." The marchers are advocating for greater autonomy for Ladakh, including the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which would grant the region’s indigenous communities more control over land, forests, water, and other natural resources.

NAPM, led by prominent activists including Medha Patkar, Prafulla Samantara, Suniti SR, Soumya Dutta, and Santosh Lalwani, has called for the immediate release of all detained marchers and the withdrawal of prohibitory orders in Delhi. They also urged the central government to open a "genuinely sensitive dialogue" with the Ladakhi climate marchers and their supporters.

Himalayan Region Under Threat

NAPM emphasized that the Himalayas, often referred to as the "lifeline" of South and Southeast Asia, are under severe threat due to large-scale corporate and governmental exploitation of the region's resources. This exploitation includes the extraction of minerals, the damming of rivers for energy, the commercialization of land, and the unregulated growth of mass tourism.

In addition to these challenges, NAPM highlighted the growing impacts of climate change on the Himalayan region. The area has experienced more frequent and severe rainfall, cloudbursts, landslides, forest fires, and the drying up of small streams. New invasive species, including disease vectors like mosquitoes, have been reaching higher altitudes, previously untouched by such dangers.

"The people of the Himalayas, who have lived in harmony with nature for millennia, must be at the center of decision-making processes concerning the governance and sustainable use of their natural resources," the statement read. NAPM called for an immediate halt to industrial-corporate exploitation in the region and emphasized the importance of empowering local communities to manage their commons.

The Ladakh climate marchers have been raising these critical environmental concerns alongside demands for more autonomy and local employment opportunities. They have also called for the government to fulfill promises made during previous elections, including the granting of Sixth Schedule status to Ladakh.

Instead of engaging in dialogue with the marchers, the government responded by imposing prohibitory orders across Delhi and detaining the peaceful protesters. This action has drawn widespread criticism from activists and civil society organizations, who view the government’s response as undemocratic and heavy-handed.

The Ladakh climate march, which began on September 1, 2024, is part of a broader effort to safeguard the fragile ecology of the Himalayan region and protect the rights of its indigenous communities. The detained marchers had hoped to reach Rajghat in Delhi by October 2, 2024, on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, to deliver their message of peace, environmental protection, and autonomy.