Let’s practice what we preach
Editor,
Strange are the ways of some of our politicians – they set out to do what they have told others not to do. For example, publicly advising others not to cut trees or to destroy the environment but at the same time proposing the erection of a building which will result in the destruction of multiple trees and the surrounding greenery. No compunctions there. Also asking organizations to produce papers to prove the heritage status of a building while fully knowing that Meghalaya does not even have a Heritage Bill hence it is not possible in this state of ours to declare any place a heritage site even if it fulfills certain laid down conditions. Commenting that the Tara Ghar site selection was a directive from the government does not appear to be correct as we all know that the task was given to a site selection committee which, if I am not mistaken, was headed by a senior member of the assembly secretariat. Some of our leaders (and exploiters) of our beloved Mei Ram-ew have literally taken what is written in Genesis chapter 1 verse 26 to heart :- “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
Let us not forget what the Bible says about the punishment that awaits us for the continuing ruthless exploitation of our mother earth – I leave it to our readers to find the answer in Isaiah chapter 24 verses 3 to 6. If they had any sense the concerned leaders would heed the warning but greed is a powerful force that, at most times, helps in turning a blind eye to what is right.
Yours etc.,
D.M.Pariat,
Shillong-3
Callous remarks
Editor,
Why can’t people respect the dead? The ambush by GNLA at Tapa Darenchi killed three policemen and critically injured two others. Each of them was a son, husband, brother and uncle to their family. Their families are still mourning for them. They have died while on duty; that’s a great thing to be remembered.
I am a regular reader of The Shillong Times and the wife of a policeman posted in East Garo Hills, Meghalaya. I have been following each and every report on the recent ambush. The comments of former Chief Minister D D Lapang and Leader of Opposition, Conrad Sangma, saying “Law and Order failed in Garo Hills” and Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh asking police to use open vehicles, are insensitive and political. Instead of paying their condolences to the families they are instead showing their great thinking powers. Being a simple housewife, I know what the meaning of an ‘AMBUSH’ is.
The police are humans too. Each time my husband comes home, my kids and I are jubilant but the moment he goes back for duty we wonder if he will return alive. Though the police slog like animals they are never appreciated. If the victims of these ambushes could have at least killed one of their attackers, these flippant comments would not have been passed, and their names would have been enlisted for an award. And every article would have carried a headline saying ‘Police – GNLA crossfire’ not ‘Ambush’
Unsympathetic gestures from higher authorities particularly when a family has lost a dear one, is very painful. The victims of the ambush are not known to me personally but every policeman/woman’s family will have the same feeling. Where are the top leaders of GNLA? Settled in a different country, securing their future before they sit for a so-called talks with the Government for a ‘Sovereign Garoland? Aren’t you killing your own brethren to fulfill your dubious motives? We Garos are known for our hospitality, kindness, honesty, perseverance etc … You denied your role in the ambush, but should we trust you? Why can’t we live a peaceful life?
Why do we need an extremist group for a separate state? Don’t we have the power of speech? Instead of training your cadres to fight and kill and extort, why don’t you educate them and bring out a number of IPS and lAS that we need for a separate state? After all the pen is mightier than the sword!
I request all politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen, reputed private school
owners and top GNLA leaders to provide free education for at least 5-10
uneducated or drop out school children and out of them we could perhaps have a minimum number of IAS or IPS yearly in the near future. To the GNLA, I say their education will cost you less than the cost of arms and ammunitions and all the bloodshed.
Yours etc.,
Mary R Marak ,
Tura
Birth certificates
Editor,
All is not well in the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office at Shillong. Hundreds of applications for issue of birth certificates have been pending for the past several months.
In Jowai and Tura it takes hardly 30 days from the date of submission of an application to get a birth certificate but not so in Shillong. Here the people concerned are adopting a very callous attitude on this issue which is a matter of life and death for the petitioners and their wards as it is directly related to the admission process outside the State.
Hence, it is expected that this very urgent public grievances will be looked into personally by the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner should dispose off the long pending applications for issue of birth certificates. The process should not be delayed on the silly pretext of clerical and uncalled for queries.
Yours etc.,
Name withheld on request