Newmai News Network
Shillong | July 7
The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) is waiting for the decision of the five Himas with regard to the filing of a petition against the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Meghalaya and Assam for resolving the six areas of difference between the two states.
Executive Member in charge of the Elaka, Jambor War informed that the Chief Executive Member (CEM) had called a meeting with the traditional heads of the five Himas - Hima Mylliem, Hima Nongspung, Hima Jirang, Hima Nonglang and Hima Jyrngam Sirdarship – from the two districts West Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi – on March 15, to get their views on the MoU.
He said the KHADC had also written to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma expressing the views of the five Himas and requested the state government to revisit the MoU.
“However, we have not received any reply but we only saw through the media that the state government had maintained a clear stand not to revisit the MoU,” War said while replying to a resolution moved by Congress MDC from Nongstoin Gabriel Wahlang.
Subsequent to this, two meetings were again called with the five Himas on April 18 and April 22. The Himas expressed the need to form the coordination committee which both ruling and opposition MDCs are its members and that since the government cannot revisit the MoU, the only option that is left was to file a petition before the court.
“We have formed a coordination committee to look into the problems faced by the Himas. However till now, we are waiting for the information from the Himas on what action they have taken in this regard,” War said while informing that the committee would soon call for a meeting.
Stating that there was only one shortcoming on the part of the state government, he said before taking a final decision to sign the MoU, the state government forgot to take the stakeholders which include the traditional institutions, landowners and the district council, which is the custodian of the tribal lands into consideration.
“Due to this, the district council being a custodian had to intervene on the issue related to the signing of the MoU although the issue is a state subject,” he said.
The EM in charge of the Elaka however maintained that there is no misunderstanding among the MDCs on the boundary settlement. “We are united on the issue since both the ruling and opposition members are part of the coordination committee,” he said.
Earlier supporting the resolution, Congress MDC from Mawhati Charles Marngar questioned the decision of the 11 NPP MDCs to support the MoU. He also sought clarification on the steps taken by the coordination committee and the stand of the UDP-led executive committee on the issue.
“Whether we still have a united voice on the issue so that people will know? If the council cannot do anything about the MoU that was signed without the knowledge of the stakeholders, I fear that the second phase of border settlement will further affect the people under the jurisdiction of the council,” Marngar said.
He also asked the 11 NPP MDCs to reconsider their decision to support the MoU if it goes against the interest of the tribal people.
Opposing the resolution, NPP MDC from Rambrai-Jyrngam said that he would continue to support the MoU to ensure the long-pending boundary dispute with Assam is resolved once and for all.
“I understand if we delay further to resolve the border dispute, the problem will continue and moreover there has been so much unrest so who will not want to resolve this issue,” he said while adding that it was only the MDA government which dared to take a bold decision to resolve this issue.
Pyngrope further claimed that all villages under his constituency will remain with Meghalaya due to the MoU. He added that the MoU had clearly stated that ownership of land will remain with the people.
Asking the Margnar to go through the MoU properly, he further slammed the then Congress-led state governments in Meghalaya and Assam for failing to resolve the border dispute.
Surprisingly, Pyngrope was made to sit right next to Marngar despite being a ruling MDC.
