NGOs make a beeline for Langpih , Assurances from Assam, M’laya sought
Our Reporter
Shillong: The fast-unto-death call by Pynskhemlang Nongshlong and others at Langpih has drawn wide support from all sections of the society with various social organisations, teachers’ associations and others joining hands together to put pressure on the State Government to resolve the long-pending boundary issue with neighbouring Assam.
The latest group to show its solidarity with the agitators is the Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF) Central body which has decided to visit Langpih on Monday to join in the fast.
Two members of the Meghalaya Upper Primary School Teachers’ Association have also decided to resort to a 30-hour fast and day-night prayer from 11 am on Monday till 5 pm on Tuesday at the main gate of the State Central Library.
Criticizing the MUA Government for its failure to resolve the border dispute with Assam, the JYF has stated that the Meghalaya government has been quietly bearing the atrocities of their Assam counterpart which has had an adverse impact on the security of the people of the State especially in the border areas.
“The organisation extends its support to the agitators at Langpih,” JYF president P Majaw said, adding that it was high time the Government takes some serious steps other than mere discussion on the issue.
Meanwhile, the fasting agitators including Pynskhemlang on Saturday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma through the West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner demanding an assurance letter signed by both the Assam and Meghalaya government that they would make efforts to solve the border dispute. The agitators also made it clear that they will not withdraw their fast-unto-death call until both the state governments sign the written assurance, our Nongstoin correspondent reports.
Also, representatives from six NGOs of Jaintia Hills visited Langpih on Saturday to express their solidarity with the fasting activists.
The group that visited Langpih consisted of members from the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong Block I, Jaintia People’s Forum, Hynniewtrep National People’s Front from Khanduli, Jaintia People’s Movement Forum and the FKJGP and HANM, Jaintia Hills units.
The team was led by Baitlang Pohsngap of the Jaintia People’s Forum.
The NGOs, while expressing solidarity with Pynskhemlang and others, declared that if Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh failed to come up with an assurance letter by Tuesday, members of these NGOs would join Pynskhemlang at Langpih in the fast-unto-death.
Meanwhile, two more activists – Ms Fullness Sanglain (15) from Iewnongma and Elendro Dkhar (45) of Nongmawlein – joined Pynskhemlang and the other fasting activists on Saturday, taking the total number of people on fast to eight, while eight other activists have been hospitalized so far after participating in the fast-unto-death.
The pastor of Langpih and other village elders organised a prayer for the well being of the fasting activists.