Residents demand relocation of camp from WKH
NONGSTOIN: In what may be called as a unanimous voice of the people of West Khasi Hills district, several NGOs, student unions, mothers union, headmen of several villages and the people of Aradonga in West Khasi Hills District condemned the decision of the Government to set up the ANVC (B) designated camp in Aradonga.
A mammoth gathering of thousands of people comprising of members from HNYF (Mawshynrut Circle), HANM (Mawshynrut Circle), KSU (West Khasi Hills District), LIF, FKJGP (West Khasi Hills District), GSU (Aradonga Regional Unit), Mothers’ Union (Athiabari), Ri- Nongtrai Sports and Social Welfare Association, Headmen of 24 Villages (Athiabari Circle) and the general people of Aradonga and Athiabari attended a meeting held at the Community Hall at Aradonga to voice their protest against the Government order to set up the ANVC (B) designated camp at Aradonga.
Speaking at the meeting, Robin Marak, headman of Malangkona said, “Though the order for the proposed site of the designated camp of the ANVC (B) is yet to be confirmed, we still oppose the idea of the camp being set up in West Khasi Hills district. The camp’s presence will disrupt the peace of the area and would create communal clashes between the Garos and the Khasis in future.” He added that the camp’s presence would also interfere with the local administration of the villages and as a result would create lawlessness in the area.
Gladis K Marak, president of the Mothers’ Union, Athiabari said “West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills are both not suitable for setting up the ANVC (B) designated camp. The camp’s creation in these districts would turn it into another Garo Hills like situation. The camp’s presence would also mean a security concern for the women and the children. The people of our area are innocent and can be lured easily by the outfit to join their organization. As mothers, none of us want to see our children branded as militants and being killed by bullets of the security personnel. I appeal to the Government of Meghalaya to take the site of the designated camp as far away as possible from the innocent children of our area.”
GSU President of Aradonga Regional Unit, Nikseng K Marak said “The Meghalaya State Government under the leadership of Dr Mukul Sangma appears to have a hidden agenda behind the proposal to set up the camp in West Khasi Hills District. We demand the Government to set up the designated camp of the ANVC (B) at Ampati or at Shillong. We understand that the Government is expected to provide a safe place for the militants during the period of cease fire, but just to ensure the safety of the (Contd in P-10)
Pressure on Govt…
(Contd from P-3) ANVC (B), we cannot allow the Government to compromise on the safety of our people. The ANVC (B)’s claim that many of their cadres are residents from Aradonga is rubbish. So far none of the residents have joined any militant outfits of the State. Their reason for demanding the camp to be set up in Aradonga is because the area has several toll gates which can serve as their source of income to further strengthen their outfit by procuring arms. The camp’s presence would also adversely affect the agricultural businesses of the area as the ANVC (B) not only extorts from just coal traders but also from the petty businesses. I know for a fact that there are several informers of the ANVC (B) in this meeting and I ask them to go and tell their masters that the people of Aradonga oppose the site for their designated camp.”
Jodis Dkhar, president of the FKJGP Langdongdai Area said “If the ANVC (B) are to have a peace talk, why can’t they just go home and live with their family happily and peacefully. During a cease fire, the Government provides for the security of the militants. The ANVC (B) should not be choosy and should accept whatever the Government gives. This is perhaps the only instance that a militant outfit is dictating the Government for the designated camp’s location. Above all, Aradonga and Athiabari needs development and a designated camp is the last thing that the Government should install here. Perhaps this issue has come as a blessing in disguise for the Garo and Khasi people to unite and as a result oppose the Government’s proposal.”
Wellesly Lyngkhoi, General Secy KSU (West Khasi Hills District) in his speech said, “The Government has decided to set up the designated camp at Aradonga without even consulting the people or representatives of the area. They are indirectly forcing the people to protest. The presence of the ANVC (B) cadres at Aradonga would interfere with the traditional village council and would result in communal disharmony among the people of the area. If we recall, last year two students of Holy Cross School of Aradonga went missing and were rumored to have joined some outfit. If the camp is allowed to exist here, there would be hundreds of such cases. Recently, the ANVC (B) had claimed through one of the dailies that if the camp is set up at Aradonga, development would flow in. if that’s the case, many youths from all over the state would be willing to join outfits for the sake of development. We demand that the designated camp be set up in East Khasi Hills District, where there are various security mechanisms to put a check on them and not at Aradonga where only a police outpost exists.”
Lyngkhoi also added “In the General Executive Committee meeting of the KSU held at Shillong recently, we have decided to give a two week deadline to the Government to revoke the order for setting the ANVC (B) designated camp at Aradonga or we would resort to a series of agitations. The deadline is in effect since May 13.”
The meeting finally through a signed agreement decided to go ahead with any means possible to pressurize the Government to revoke its decision for setting up the designated camp of the ANVC (B) at Aradonga or any part of West Khasi Hills District.