Editor
The saying goes ‘Be the change you want to be’ and politicians seem to have taken it literally to heart. The latest change in politics is that thick skinned politicians have suddenly become ultra sensitive to criticism. So much so that it has made journalistic writing an occupational hazard. Killing fields for creative writers are springing up in almost all states! Woe betide the luckless columnist, cartoonist or photographer (depending whether its WB or Meg) who attempts to ridicule or expose a politician, especially one with dubious marks in performance. These highly sensitive creatures have access to ample IEDs against critics. There is the IPC, the Breach of Privileges, their two fists, the police and lately bone headed supporters. Deadly combinations against hapless citizens, people our politicians have sworn to safeguard!
The latest fake encounter took place at Laitmukhrah PS where HH Mohrmen, a prominent Jaintia columnist was detained by the police for an alleged defamatory write up against the most ‘Honourable Deputy Chief Minister I/c Mining’ ( as described in the FIR). Apparently honourable people do not lodge FIRs themselves but leave it to their supporters to do so on their behalf. So far so good but a question remains. Is it obligatory and is it mandatory for the police to accept a FIR on defamation lodged by a third party on behalf of someonelese? It might be sycophancycally sound but legally, how tenable is it? Is curbing Freedom of Speech and Expression the change our politicians wish to impose upon us? Will this happen if a certain political party with such a mindset is returned? Questions that demand an answer.
In Meghalaya it takes the police more than 30 days to nab an accused tantric involved in child sacrifice; abet a jail break- you walk free; child rapist – chances of bail very fair; but criticise a non performing Minister, and you end up in the lock up faster than you can say ‘Sbuk’. Are Bah Bindo and the UDP trying to win a democratic election or comically outdo Mamata’s TMC? Incidentally the word ‘sbuk’ in Khasi is closely associated with the act of completely shutting off sound, especially words of the mouth. Is the incident under discussion a brazen attempt to ‘set sbuk’, the voice of free society? Perhaps this is a UDP poll strategy but many feel that attempting to gag the press while contesting democratic elections usually don’t gel together. Someone should tell overzealous UDP workers this home truth. With supporters like these, who needs enemies?
Yours etc.,
Toki Blah
President, ICARE
Let’s unite against fascism
Editor,
I write to you as a concerned citizen and human being. The deteriorating political, economic and civic conditions in Garo Hills is obvious to everyone. Currently we are in the middle of a 144 hour bandh that has brought life to a standstill with the threat of a longer bandh. I am sure I speak for the common people of the region for whom both the demands of insurgent groups as well as the response of the government do not matter much. What is the point of all these if we are denied a democratic and civil life? Neither successive governments nor the insurgent groups have been able to guarantee that. The concerns of the common man always come last. If there’s a fire, the fire brigade refuses to step out in the bandh. Courses are not covered properly in schools and colleges, daily labourers are left without an income, vegetables rot in the absence of proper storage facilities. As people scramble to stock up on food in between the bandhs, the prices skyrocket.
As innocent civilians we are caught in the cross fire between insurgent groups and the State. What is our place in all of this – the common people? Are we nothing more than collateral damage? Successive governments have failed miserably in ensuring even basic amenities and safety for the common man. For example, we don’t have good medical and critical care facilities in Garo Hills. Patients have to be rushed to Guwahati in case of accidents or serious illness. This is a failure of the government. Governments come and go yet the deplorable situation doesn’t change. The continual bandhs pose a threat in that people won’t know what to do in case of an emergency. They’ll have to risk lives either way – by keeping the patient in Tura or by trying to drive to Guwahati in the middle of the bandh. So who suffers the most?
I urge the common people to see that we are the ones whose interests are being ignored, overlooked and harmed. It is high time that we find a collective voice as citizens, not divided by our ethnic, religious or class interests. It is time for us to take a collective stand and say STOP, this is enough! We must not be drawn any longer into the battle between insurgent groups and the State, both of whom have their own agenda and not the interests of the common man as the priority. I urge my fellow people to come together and raise our voices against the actions of governments and other interest groups that deny us a safe and quality human life. Is that too much to ask for?
Yours etc.
Trin Sangma
Mumbai