From Our Correspondent
NONGSTOIN: The KSU (Rambrai circle) on Saturday organised a rally at Rambrai to garner and extend support to Pynskhemlang Nongshlong and others fasting at Langpih.
The rally began from St John’s School and ended at Lad Mawrang from where the gathering went to the market place for a brief meeting attended by the villagers of Rambrai, KSU (Rambrai Circle), HANM (West Khasi Hills) and members of the Western People’s Movement. Rambrai MDC K P Pangniang also took part in the rally.
Nongshlong along with others had been fasting since June 30 to press for the quick resolution of the long-pending border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya.
Addressing the gathering, KSU president (Rambrai circle) Pyrshang Jyrwah warned the government that if a written assurance to resolve the boundary dispute was not given , “the nonviolent would be forced to resort to violence”.
He added that unlike others states, land in Meghalaya belonged to the people and not the Government. “Hence the rights of the people should be protected.” Jyrwah alleged that the Assam government was using the Nepalese people to gradually capture the border areas for them.
Meanwhile, Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) (West Khasi Hills) President Arphul Kharbani alleged that the Kyrshai area in Rambrai, bordering Assam was also encroached by the Assam Government. While confessing that members of the organization had set the police outpost in Jirang on fire last week, he said that the same was done because of the government’s repeated ignorance and neglect to their pleas.
Meanwhile, KSU (Nongstoin Circle) president Davisgoldfield Wanniang said that he was saddened by the fact that some people in Nongstoin described Pynskhemlang’s fast as politically motivated. He also warned that if Pynskhemlang or anyone in Langpih died, the Government would be solely responsible for it.