Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Insurgency and human security

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Editor,

Tuesday’s militant attack in South Garo Hills once again highlights the grave threats to human security in Meghalaya and the Garo Hills in particular. While we mourn the dead, there is a need to reflect on the problem of insurgency and its huge implications for democracy and human security. Given the frequency of these incidents in the Garo Hills, there is an urgent need to understand the problem with a view to formulating effective responses that are in consonance with the rule of law.

In this regard, the response to insurgency should encompass the strengthening of law-enforcement machinery and civil society. An effective law-enforcement machinery will be better equipped not only to appropriately respond to insurgency but also to develop intelligence and to provide proper training to officials in formulating counter-insurgency policies. The fight against insurgency needs the support of the legal system and civil society whereby the law-enforcement machinery, including the criminal justice process, needs to be strengthened. This is essential so that acts of insurgency are thoroughly investigated, fairly prosecuted and justice delivered within a reasonable time frame.

It is important to recognize that the support of civil society is essential. The strengthening of the law-enforcement machinery for adopting suitable counter-insurgency policies ought to focus on the availability of necessary resources, proper training and support for the police and other institutions engaged in protecting security, and most important, instilling faith and trust of the law-enforcement machinery among the people.

Yours etc.,

Bivan R. Mukhim

Shillong 22

Church and politics don’t mix

Editor,

I fully endorse the views expressed by Banlam Lyngdoh in his letter “Stop guiding the Church” (ST 1st November 2013). Religious institutions are there to serve just one purpose which Mr Lyngdoh correctly points out as being a guide towards spiritual fulfilment. The moment religious institutions take the liberty of indulging in political affairs of the State, the very pillars of secularism and democracy will take a backseat. In doing so we tend to quickly efface the strides of modernity and technical progress the intellectual mind has evolved over the years.

For example if in future the Church does decide to take a stance on the ongoing ILP impasse, there could be ramifications beyond the jurisdiction of the Church. The hardcore right wing Hindutva group RSS as well as the powerful Islamic organization Darul Uloom Deoband would have an equal right to decide on the fate of Christians in perceived vulnerable areas where Hindus and Muslims are in majority respectively for exactly the same reasons the Church would have taken its decision on. Be it India or anywhere in the world, the greatest and deepest wounds to humankind has been afflicted by this squandering of energy in trying to have religious institutions play their political satire, for which they were never created in the first place.

One of the main reasons for this faltering is primarily because of a unique human trait we have inherited from our nomadic past and that is we tend to believe that we live in a world where only our own religion alone exists. The rest are either false religions or non-existent to us, a belief which gives us this tremendous zeal and superfluous conviction almost like hysteria to empower religious institutions with that authority to dictate its aspirations on political affairs. History has enough examples how such convictions had done no good to humanity except for creating a recipe of macabre to the delight of no one else but Satan himself. What more can Satan desire than bloodshed, hate and misbelief amongst humans living in the same planet under the same sky ?

As a human and a follower of Christianity I would not like the Church meddling in the political affairs of the state. I do not expect Meghalaya to turn into another Mizoram where the Church has grown far more powerful and influential than the State govt itself. This arrangement might work well for the Mizos in Mizoram but not for the Mizos who have to live in other parts of India or in the world. Secondly, we Khasis are largely secular. The existence of Seng Khasi , its conservation and healthy co-existence with the majority Christians is ample proof that we Khasis are united not necessarily because of our religious affiliation but because of our heritage.

As for ILP, if it serves the purpose of preventing illegal foreigners establishing their settlements in our land , I am all for the game, however if its single objective is to alienate non tribal legal Indians from our soil, we Khasis should first consider not purchasing any property or conduct business anywhere else in India besides Meghalaya. By doing so, we make our conscience more transparent and definitely no Church doctrine is needed for this. Few things should come from within. For sure we should stop dictating what the Church should do and should not.

Yours etc,.

Dr E Marbaniang,

Via email

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