Economic strike to protest coal ban

SHILLONG, SEPT 19: The Movement for Indigenous People’s Rights and Livelihood – Meghalaya (MIPRLM) has decided to call for an ‘indefinite-economic-strike’ from September 23  to protest against the NGT’s blanket ban on unscientific rat hole coal mining and the alleged anti-people attitude of the state government.

The announcement was made on Friday  by MIPRLM after the government failed to address the issues arising out of the ban on coal mining in the state.

“The economic-strike-call (ESC) is a democratic call to stage a peaceful and non-violent protest against the blanket ban of coal and sand by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and state government complicity in the same,” MIPRL vice chairman Erwin K Sutnga said in a statement issued on Friday.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the MIPRLM held on September 18 after the ten days deadline served to the government expired.

Sutnga said that the prospect of an intractable attitude and continuous impositions of harsh and anti people conditions by the Government of Meghalaya which continues to play around with the lives and survival of lakhs who now are facing financial privations and dire straits.

“Notice has been given to the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya regarding the ESC. MIPRL calls upon all affected people to support the Economic Strike Call (ESC),” he said.

Sutnga also said apart from those directly affected, the MIPRLM  also call upon all right thinking people to come and join the protest because there is no section of society in Meghalaya in particular and many parts of India that have not been affected by the arbitrary orders of the NGT in this matter.

The MIPRL also calls upon trade unions, associations and Government employees, Banks and financial institutions to lend support to the ESC.

It is reiterated here that the ESC will be pursued in a peaceful manner in line with the traditions of Gandhian principles of protest.

MIPRL will neither support nor condone any act of coercion, use of force, threat or violence, arson leading to loss of private and public property, loss and/or injury of life and limb, Sutnga stated.

Sutnga  further stated that the strike is totally based on the legitimate demand to implement the 10 point issues submitted to the chief minister of Meghalaya on August 29 at Polo grounds and September 3.

MIPRL reiterates the need to implement Para 12 A Sub Para (b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India to protect the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Peoples’ inalienable and absolute rights over tribal land and our unique land holding system and traditional rights and customs, he said.

Sutnga added, this demand includes the modification of all Central Laws applied to the state of Meghalaya done without recourse to the mandatory provisions of Para 12 A Sub Para (b).

The movement has also been demanding the immediate address of the economic hardship of the poor and those badly affected in the coal belts and relief measures to be instituted.

Apart, it has also demanded the government to come out with a moratorium on payment of installments of loans from Banks financial institutions and Private Financiers availed by people in the mining sector amongst others.

Further, Sutnga stated that the ESC will not affect private and small commercial vehicles within Meghalaya, schools, colleges, offices, markets, transporters and traders of sand, stone and chips which means normal life in general for the local people.

All participation in the ESC should be non violent and there should be no deviance from democratic protest, he reiterated adding the strike will not hamper essential and emergency services.- By Our Reporter