SHILLONG: The eviction drive carried out by the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) at Umsawli village on Friday and the subsequent arrest of CSWO President Agnes Kharshiing has been criticised by several social organisations which termed this act as a gross violation of human rights.
Expressing strong resentment over the ‘forced eviction’ drive by the MUDA displacing the local settlers at Umsawli, the Meghalaya Peoples Human Rights Council (MPHRC) termed the eviction as a gross violation of human rights, especially the right to adequate housing.
The MPHRC also expressed anger over the forced eviction and the alleged harassment and intimidation by the MUDA that rendered the affected families without any shelter in the cold and without any feasible alternative they turned into refugees in their own land.
“Such evictions, if needed, should have been carried out only in exceptional circumstances and in a manner that is consistent with human rights laws, without leaving the affected families homeless or vulnerable to further human rights violations,” MPHRC chairman Dino D G Dympep said.
“The Government has a primary obligation to ensure the fulfillment and enjoyment of human rights to those affected families. It must ensure that effective remedial measures and adequate compensation are provided to the affected homeless families” the MPHRC chairman added.
Meanwhile, the KSU Mawryngkneng circle has threatened MUDA for allegedly displacing the local residents of Umsawli while condemning the state government for its tyrannical attitude.
The KSU has termed this as a silent act of war by the state government on the indigenous people of the state and also sought the intervention of the MHRC and the National Human Right Commission in this regard.
The Union has also condemned the traditional leaders including the Rangbah Shnong, the chieftains of Hima Mylliem and Hima Khyrim and also the KHADC for being silent spectators on this issue.