Shillong, August 21: The Hynniewtrep Youth Councl would like to reiterate that they are not against the settlement of Border disputes with Assam. Infact we are for it whole heartedly and we express our gratitude to the Government of both the states for taking the matter seriously. In this 50th year of statehood, the time is riped enough to settle this pending dispute once and for all.
In the Second Phase of negotiation, the organization urged upon both the Governments to take up all the remaining 6 sectors I.e. Nongmynsaw ( Langpih ) , Block 1, Block 2, Psiar and Khanduli , Deshdomria ( Raid Khadar Bongthai) , Baridua and Nongwah Mawtamur and not to take up only one or two sectors and leaving behind some sectors.
During the 1st Phase, they have seen that the Five Agreed Principles of Historical Facts , Ethnicity , Geographical contiguity , Administative convenience & Willingness of the people were not followed by the Governments while arriving at a decision.
Too much importance was given upon the “will.of the people ” residing in the affected areas who in fact are only the tenants and settlers, who are not even owners of the land of the Hima Khasi. Even the agreed principle of “historical fact” bad “documents” were not even considered diring the whole process.
What is most disturbing and amusing is the fact that even though Regional Committees were formed with an objective of providing a Report to the Government to come with a solution, it is found that the Recommendation of the WKHD Regional Committee were not accepted at all by the Chief Minister of our State. All decisions were taken in contravention of the Regional Committee Recommendation.
Even before proceeding ahead with signing the MOU, the State Government did not even consulted the important stakeholders like the Himas, Dorbar Shnongs and the ADCs. This has hurt the sentiments of majority of stakeholders in this matter and this action of the Government even lead to the affected Dorbar Himas to approach the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to seek justice and remedies.
The HYC want to make it clear that they are not against the settlement of Border with Assam but we stand form in our demand that any settlement or decision of demarcation of boundary should be done with the Agreement of all concerns especially our Himas and the ADCs.
Failure to take all the stakeholders on board before signing any documents during the 2nd Phase will not be tolerated. HYC implore upon our Chief Minister and the Government not to be a trailer of Assam’s Jeep and be dictated by what the Assam Chief Minister or his Government is putting on the table.
The HYC urged the Chief Minister of Meghalaya to rather take a firm stand in order to ensure that all the villages inhabited by the Khasi-Pnar and territories falling under the Himas are brought back to Meghalaya so that this settlement is acceptable to all. Said Mr. Robertjune Kharjahrin President, HYC in the press statement.
