By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Taking a dig at the decision of the KHADC to suspend the Syiem of Hima Nongspung, Peter Roger Syiemiong, Chairman of the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, John F Kharshiing, has termed the incident as ‘murder of democracy’.
“This decision of the KHADC to suspend the Syiem of Hima Nongspung is nothing less than murder of democracy. It is strange that the KHADC, without going into the merits of the case, has gone ahead in suspending the Syiem,” Kharshiing said on Tuesday.
It may be mentioned that the KHADC Executive Committee had issued a notification on Monday suspending Syiemiong on the ground that he had entered into an ‘agreement’ with the Assam Government for construction of a road inside the territory under the jurisdiction of the Nongspung Syiemship.
According to Kharshiing the KHADC should have gone into the technicalities of the agreement which was signed by the Syiem of Hima Nongspung. “I personally feel that the agreement signed by Syiemiong with the Assam Government has a lot of merit. I do not think even successive chief ministers of both states could have come up with such an agreement. Meghalaya can actually use the agreement to its advantage,” he added.
Mentioning that the Assam government officials had confirmed in the agreement that they would not stake territorial claim or land rights over the portion of road that runs through the Syiemship,
Kharshiing said it was clear that that Assam recognised and respected the traditional boundaries of the Syiemship.
He said the KHADC should have at least directed the Syiem to convene the Dorbar Hima (village council meeting) to deliberate on the agreement signed with the Assam government.
“The Dorbar Hima would have been up to the appropriate forum. It should be up to the people of the Hima to take whatever action they feel was required against Syiemiong,” he added.
On the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (Appointment and Succession of Chiefs and Headmen) Act, 1959, Kharshiing said the traditional chiefs have time and again sought a review of the Act.
The KHADC is usually guided by the Act to appoint and remove traditional heads like Syiems and headmen.
“This (Act) is a draconian law. We have written several letters to the Centre to have a relook into the Act,” Kharshiing said.