Editor,
To date I have stayed out of the discussion on Inner Line Permit, I have listened and watched and thoughtfully discussed with friends who are pro ILP and those who are anti ILP. In all the discussions I don’t find any who disagree with the subject of protection of a small indigenous tribe or tribes. However even with the ones who are pro ILP, when you really get down to it, there is a sense of unknowing. So many go on about the influx of outsiders and mostly point to the Bangladeshi. I will not be so bold as to make a statement one way or the other except to point out a few facts that in my opinion hold true: If one is concerned about the vote bank being hoarded by the Congress government and helping Bangladeshis or as most say ‘mynder’ or ‘outsider’ is the ILP going to stop that or actually help it? All the laws are in place to stop the non-citizen, yet they are broken. I, myself, have to register at the police station, I have to get a Residency Certificate, I cannot vote even if I do have a PIO card. Nobody is asking me to go get a voter’s identity card. Why? Because they know I can’t, and by the country’s laws I can be thrown out if I did take one illegally.. So why can a Bangladeshi do it? Even if the ILP came in – ILP is not a protection from people from other countries; it is for people of the same country travelling to certain protected areas. Protection from people from other countries is already in place. The ILP cannot address the tenure of the outsider who already manages to get status even if the law is against him/her. Surely he/she will have a way around the ILP which actually is not a law to stop a foreigner.
So called intelligent people are asking for changes in the makeup of the ILP. If they had any sense they would realize that, that would take a long time as it is a Central government issue. Can you imagine the time it would take for changes to take shape into a Law? Most of the things going on with the ILP protest at the moment are by my humble opinion politically motivated; for right or wrong is not for me to judge. However, when it comes to the betterment of the race, political forces and selfish motives is not the method. The only way for long term protection of a race is by common goals and selfless motives. Much of the problems that have developed in many minority races are internal in nature, and often caused by self-interested individuals selling off their morals for money and personal gain. There is a big problem when economics becomes the driving force. I am neither pro ILP nor anti ILP; I am for help in protection of any minority and sustaining that protection. The fight at the moment in my opinion has lost its moral ground and egos and self interest are taking priority over the interest of the race. I pray and ask that individuals sit back and think about what they are doing before it is too late. Hate and distrust are being cultivated in a State that says it has a majority who are Christ like. To date I have not seen one pro ILP person condemn the brutality and destruction that has occurred during this time, yet I am sure many of them will sit in church on Sunday and utter songs and words of praise to a benevolent God that they say they believe in.
Yours etc.,
James Perry,
Mawphlang
Locus standi of FKJGP?
Editor,
Who is FKJGP to decide whether the Tenancy Bill is good for the people? Let them speak for themselves and not for others. According to me this is the best way forward to resolve a sensitive issue keeping in mind interests of all involved parties. Pressure groups have lost credibility due to anti-people policies and ongoing violence. I want to ask the FKJGP information and publicity secretary E.N. Lyngdoh how office bearers of his organization are able to sustain their prosperous lifestyles when they do not allow poor people to make a living? The same question applies to KSU, HNYF, CSWO and others who are in the Pro-ILP group. Let their leaders reveal their sources of income to us, the common people. WE want to know how these groups are sustaining their families and themselves while common people are harassed by bandhs and road blockades. If they cannot give us an answer, they should stop their nonsense and allow us to live in peace!
Yours etc,.
S. Nongtraw
Shillong – 1.
Who will protect our protectors?
Editor,
I am deeply ashamed to see the picture of a burnt Police Gypsy on the front page of Shillong Times today. The other day another new report was carried in your paper about a senior police officer’s car being set on fire at his residence. If MLP is so helpless they cannot protect themselves then how can they protect others? The people who did this must be condemned without a doubt. But the fact that guardians of law and order have become a helpless quivering lot does not give me any confidence to trust them.
Yours etc,.
Tracie Lamare
Shillong 3