By Babet Sten
On the Deputy CM Rowell Lyngdoh’s statement about ILP being an old British law, yes it definitely is. Hence we need a new post colonial reading of law and laws in the state to further the interests of the tribal population. Government seems stuck in British era mode of administration ruling only from the municipal areas and ordering the rest.
Recently, MTDF made a statement that road blockades and bandhs are killing the tourism industry in the state. Sure but tourism is itself a neo-colonial device for outsiders to come and see local “specimens” at their own comfort. I am reminded of the old anthropological photos where tribal and aboriginal people were objects of fascination and curiosity. Must we make every single village a tourist spot? How about taking the tourists to see real-life cultural events like witch-hunting, mob lynching and cuckold fighting at Motphran?
It seems only Morningstar Sumer has read into the minute details of the Bengal Frontier Regulations Act (1873) and has understood the nitty-gritty of ILP, whereas Dr Fenella Nonglait has contradicted her party’s stance on this issue. HSPDP has been very clear about implementing ILP in the state as stipulated in their election manifesto but now Nonglait feels that a so called “expert committee” has to be facilitated again. What about the last HLC headed by Bindo Lanong and its recommendations?
There is a threat perception that we, as a tribal community, will be outnumbered and erased from the face of the earth, that our lands and livelihoods are under threat, our forests and fields will be taken away – so what do we need most urgently? We need multiple mechanisms. Some to check the growing influence of money and men from outside the state and the other to check the internal corruption and nepotism. Land and Forest laws of a strong nature are required and not eco-brigades of a military style management. ILP seems to forget the paramilitary and military dkhars/outsiders who are the major contributors towards congestion and influx. So the need is de-militarization of the state.
It seems ILP is supposed to target only the people who come by taxis or buses; migrant workers who can be scared away easily with a simple yawn by muscular and patriotic men. No one is concerned about the ones who can afford to buy your lands and cheat students, farmers, grocers. Those we welcome in the name of development and open our industrial areas and SEZs at Byrnihat etc
There is a general feeling, even among the resident non-tribals, that the problem of influx is of a religious nature ie Islam related. Is this the influence of the Narendra Modi fans of the North East, or the larger international conspiracy headed by none other than god-fearing Christian kingdom called America?
Now the men who have been arrested by the police during the last one week have been disowned by the KSU who say that they are not their members. This may be true but perhaps this whole hullaballoo over the ILP might in fact be indicative of a greater issue. That the young people have no faith in the government and have used this excuse to attack, vandalise and vent out their anger and frustration at the incompetence and disregard shown by the authorities over the years!.
If the KSU-led agitations for the implementation of ILP leads to success we wish them well, however as it seems now all this is a circus to topple Mukul Sangma and what has the local boy or girl got to do with this? A new CM will mean one thing – another prolonged, delayed and fruitless quest for protecting the jaidbynriew