HYC to intensify anti-influx protest

SHILLONG, JULY 29: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) today announced an indefinite series of agitations in the constituencies of all the ruling MLAs of the Congress-led government as a mark of protest against the latter’s refusal to discuss the 14-point of demands which include implementation of the ILP system.

The HYC also decided to name its struggle to safeguard the Khasi land from influx of outsiders as “Save Hynniewtrep Nation” – a movement which will be by the people, for the people.

In the meantime, it is also in the process of preparing concept notes to kick-started the implementation of the various laws including the ILP system in the six districts of Khasi-Jaintia Hills with the support of the traditional institutions.

The decision to intensify its agitations was taken at a meeting of the HYC held after the ruling MLAs refused to pay heed to the invitation for discussion on the issue at the Khasi National Durbar Hall here on Saturday.

Condemning the “carefree attitude” of the ruling MLAs especially those from the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, HYC chief Peter Lawai said, “By refusing to turn up for discussion, they have totally underestimated the points put forth by the Council.”

In view of this, Lawai said, “We have decided to intensify our struggle by staging an indefinite series of agitations for implementation of the 14-point of demands under our Save Hynniewtrep Nation, a movement by the people for the people.”

Earlier this week, a black flag protest and a sit-in-demonstration was staged by the HYC in the city as a mark of protest against the refusal of the chief minister Mukul Sangma and his cabinet colleagues to discuss the Council’s demands.

During these two protests, activists of the HYC have put black banners and flags in front of the residences of the chief minister and ministers even as they publicly tear their pictures into pieces and dumped them into a waste bin.

Disclosing the strategy of its proposed agitations, the HYC leader said series of protests will be launched by the different circles and units of the Council in the constituencies or even residences of all the MLAs of the ruling MUA-II govt.

The date and time for starting the protest which will exclude the districts in Garo Hills region will be announced by next week.

“We have entrusted the organizing committee of the central executive council (CEC) to execute the decision on this besides holding of public meeting in every district of the region,” he said.

The Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA-II) coalition government comprises of 30 Congress MLAs, 2 Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs, 11 Independents and a member of the North East Socialist Democratic Party (NESDP). Congress alone has a total of 16 MLAs from Khasi-Jaintia Hills.

Referring to the upcoming Assembly Session, to be held in the month of September, Lawai threatened that the Council will take stern decision if the state government refused to discuss the 14-point of demands in the House.

“We will be compelled to take up a surprise protest against the ministers and all MLAs of the ruling government if they are attending or holding any kind of meeting or functions,” he added.

Further deciding not to longer wait on the government to tackle the issue of influx and illegal immigration, the HYC chief said they will soon start the implementation of the various laws proposed in the 14-point of demands.

“We are in the process of preparing the concept note to be circulated to all the traditional institutions including dorbar hima and dorbar shnong on how to protect the land by implementing these laws,” he said.

“The indigenous community will further deteriorate due to the increase of influx flowing to the land if we keep on waiting for the government,” he added.

On the other hand, HYC general secretary Robertjune Kharjahrin said the concept note will be launched by the Council next week and will accordingly be circulated to all traditional institutions during series of meetings to be held soon.

“We have decided to go ahead with the implementation of the 14-point of demands along with the traditional dorbars,” he said while reiterated the HYC’s stand to reject the government’s comprehensive mechanism to regulate influx into the state.

Pointing to the move of the government to notify the rules for the implementation of the Meghalaya Resident Security and Safety Act, 2016, he said, “We will never accept its implementation because it is not to protect the land from influx and we need other laws to ensure such problem is address effectively.”

On the recent statement by the East Khasi Hills District Superintendent of Police (SP) over its decision to implement these points, Kharjahrin said that the SP is requested to go to areas like Mawlai, Mawkyrwat and Mawryngkneng where outsiders are prohibited to freely reside in their village is a “customary practices”.

“If he (SP) is so powerful then let him start take actions against the hundreds of villages,” he said adding “The implementation of the 14-point of demands will not be through forceful means but it will be based on customary practices.”

According to the HYC leaders, the SP cannot question the indigenous community on its interest to protect its own culture and rights.

Moreover, they further challenge the Congress-led government under the leadership of the chief minister to proof that implementation of the Inner Line Permit will affect development of the state as well as tourism.

“If ILP is considered as a hindrance to tourists coming to the state then how come a state like Sikkim which beats Meghalaya by 300 per cent in term of tourism,have  tourists flowing to its restricted and prohibited areas,” Kharjahrin argued.