SHILLONG, JUNE 5: Three prominent ngos on Friday said they have never agreed to support the stand of the JAC-SRS, a body of headmen to pass the rectified KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, but to continue to demand ‘re-insertion’ of the deleted clauses from the original bill.
The statement after the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) and the Khasi Women Welfare and Development Association (KWWADA) held a meeting with the Joint Action Committee – Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong (JAC-SRS) yesterday.
“We have never agreed to support the headmen on their decision to demand for passing of the rectified VAB,” KSU president Daniel Khyriem told newsmen at a press conference on Friday.
He, however, said, during the course of the meeting, the ngos had only expressed their support to the recent public rally called by them (headmen) at Polo ground on May 30.
Refusing to comment on the decision of the SRS, Khyriem said, “We are firm in our stand to oppose the deletion of Section 5 sub-sections 8 and 16 from the original bill as well as demanding re-instating the same, in view of the threat of the influx and illegal immigration into the state.”
“We are also of the opinion, a law legislated by either the Centre, State or District Council should be strong and effective enough to provide protection,” Khyriem said.
Echoing similar views, FKJGP president Joe Marwein said, “The demand for immediate re-insertion of the two deleted clauses is also in tandem with our demand to the government for implementation the comprehensive mechanism to curb and regulate the entry and exit of ‘outsiders’ into and from the state.”
The ngos, however, said that they will ensure the relationship between them and the headmen will be maintained.
“Though we may differ in our opinions on this particular issue (VAB), but the relationship we have will be maintained, since we need each other in dealing with various issues,” Marwein said.
In view of the opinion of political parties and ngos that deleting the two clauses ‘kills the spirit of VAB’ which is to protect the identity of the indigenous community, the headmen had however claimed that they are no ‘legal experts’ to comment on the merits and demerits of the original and rectified VAB.
When asked on this, Khyriem said, “We (NGOs) are also not ‘legal experts’ but when we study the two clauses which were deleted, we could understand that they empowers the traditional heads as the original bill seeks to regulate and keep check on the entry of ‘outsiders’.”
Asked whether there is any move from the ngos to merge with political parties on the issue, Marwein said, “It will be inappropriate for us to merge together. We (NGOs) will go our own way as we do not want to involve with any political parties.”
Adding to this, Khyriem informed that the ngos have proposed to the headmen for inviting all the 30 MDCs in a meeting to urge them to be united in order to ensure that the people get a bill, which is strong and effective.- By Our Reporter
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