プーチン氏に反旗、北極圏ネネツで合併抗議活動　ロシア

【モスクワＡＦＰ＝時事】北極海の端に位置するロシアの極北、ネネツ自治管区で5月、隣のアルハンゲリスク州と合併させるという政府の計画に対し、抗議運動が展開された。（写真はロシア・ネネツ自治管区に近い北極海沿岸。資料写真）
　先住民団体のメンバーで、ネネツの自治を支持するリュドミラ・ラプタンデルさん（６１）は「ネネツが他の州と合併されてしまったら、私たちの言葉や伝統を守る人がいなくなって、忘れ去られてしまう」と訴える。
　政府の合併計画は、広範囲にある豊富な鉱物資源の採掘合理化が目的だった。だが、住民４万４０００人の抗議活動によって、計画は葬られた。ウラジーミル・プーチン大統領の統治に対し、反対の声が上がるのはまれだ。
　今月上旬に行われた、プーチン氏が提案した改憲をめぐる国民投票でも、ロシアを構成する共和国や自治体のうちネネツだけが、５５％以上の反対票で改憲を拒否した。
　土地を大切にする先住民の教えを守りつつ、何世代も続いてきたトナカイとの遊牧生活は今、鉱物資源の採掘や温暖化の影響で北極圏に新たにできる航路など、ロシア政府の戦略的優先事項によって脅かされている。
　また住民の多くは、アルハンゲリスク州との合併によって、遊牧など地域の伝統の継承を可能にしてきたたっぷりの助成金が、大幅に削減されると懸念している。
　改憲をめぐる国民投票の前、ネネツの住民たちは署名、デモ、インターネットを通じた抗議行動などで合併反対運動を展開した。抗議を呼び掛けた人々は、人里離れた村々へもボートやヘリコプターで運動のパンフレットを届けた。
　公務員を退職後、抗議運動に加わっているビクトリア・ボブロワさん（５７）は、プーチン氏の改憲案に反対票を投じることだけが、「私たちの自治の願いを届ける」方法だったと語る。
　国民投票の際、地元の活動家らは不正がないかどうかを綿密に監視していた。９月１３日の地方選挙に向けた貴重な予行演習だったと、活動家らは話す。
　ネネツ自治管区のトップは国民投票の後、もはや合併案は検討議案ではなくなったと認めた。だが、将来合併が起きる可能性はまだあるとして、運動家らは警戒を緩めていない。
　北極圏開発を目的とした大規模インフラ事業計画もある。インディガ村に深海港を建設し、鉄道でアルハンゲリスクと結ぶという、ネネツ当局が推進している計画だ。
　「広大な湿原を横切る鉄道の建設は難しいし、巨額の費用がかかるだろう」とボブロワさんは批判する。「まるで月に列車を送ろうというような計画だ」【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/07/14-13:03）

Lyudmila Laptander, an activist advocating autonomy for her mineral-rich Nenets region in the Russian Arctic, worries authorities are planning to sacrifice its traditions for the promise of economic enrichment.
If Nenets is merged with another region, I worry that no one will look after our language or our traditions, and that our small villages in the tundra will be forgotten, said Laptander, 61, a member of the Yasavey cultural group.
The autonomous region on the edge of the Arctic Ocean was gripped by protests in May against the government's plans to integrate it with neighbouring Arkhangelsk.
The initiative, which aimed to streamline the extraction of the vast region's mineral wealth, was buried after its 44,000 inhabitants voiced opposition to the move in a rare protest vote against President Vladimir Putin's rule.
In a nationwide ballot that ended last week on reforms to the constitution proposed by Putin, Nenets was the only region in Russia out of 85 to reject the proposals, with more than 55 percent voting against.
While the vote sent a clear signal to Moscow, it was also a warning to local politicians facing re-election later this year.
The president can stay in power if he wants, but no one touches our autonomy, said Viktoria Bobrova, 57, a local activist and retired civil servant.
We will continue the fight during the September regional election.
- Generous subsidies -
The Nenets region is best known for its extreme weather conditions and the nomadic reindeer herders who call the vast tundra of Russia's Arctic home.
For generations, its local tribes have lived in tents buttressed by wood, guided by shamanistic beliefs that teach respect for the land.
Yet there are fears that this way of life is being threatened by Russia's strategic priorities, including mineral extraction and new Arctic shipping routes opening as temperatures rise.
The indigenous Nenets people make up around 18 percent of the population of the resource-rich region, which Moscow has granted control over its own budget.
Many residents fear merging with neighbouring Arkhangelsk would lead to severe cuts to generous subsidies that make possible regional traditions including reindeer herding.
It's already hard to live here, far away from everything, said Tatiana Antipina, a local entrepreneur.
We don't want our standard of living to fall any more.
In the run-up to the vote on the constitutional amendments proposed by Putin, Nenets residents pressed ahead with the campaign against the merger, including petitions, demonstrations and protests online.
Organisers sent leaflets by boat and helicopter to the region's most secluded villages.
- 'Train to the Moon' -
Activist Bobrova said the no vote on Putin's reforms was the only way to ensure that our desire for autonomy was heard.
For others, it was an opportunity to voice frustration that the authorities have abandoned remote Arctic hamlets, like the fishing village of Volonga.
The secluded settlement, nestled on the banks of the Barents Sea, has an official population of just 35 people.
All of the 17 residents that voted cast their ballots against the reforms.
There is nothing left here. There are no jobs. The village is falling apart, Mikhail Khozyainov, a 62-year-old former salmon fisherman, told AFP.
Why would we vote for the new constitution?
Regional activists closely monitored polls for signs of violations -- a valuable exercise ahead of local elections on September 13, they said.
After the constitutional vote, acting regional chief Yuri Bezdudnyi conceded that the merger was no longer on the table.
But the activists remain on alert, saying the merger could still happen in the future.
They are also wary of a sweeping infrastructure project to develop the Arctic.
Local authorities have backed the construction of a deep-water port in the village of Indiga which will be linked to Arkhangelsk by a new railway.
This line would be difficult and expensive to build because it crosses large swampy areas, Bobrova said.
It would be like sending a train to the moon!