Editor,
KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum should stop testing the Court’s patience with his tall statements and nonsensical claims. He is trying to garner maximum political mileage at the Court’s expense which also amounts to contempt of court. I won’t be surprised to see him sent to jail for contempt this time! It’s time that two-bit semi-literate politicians learn that they cannot fight the highest law of the land by whipping up mobs to a frenzy like in their heydays as NGO leaders. The KHADC is a redundant institution which is being used first and foremost to serve the interests of second-rate politicians instead of the people. It must be disbanded immediately.
Yours etc.,
Mark Syiem
Shillong -14
Planet of the Apes,
Editor,
Where there is little or no public opinion, there is likely to be a bad Government, which sooner or later becomes Autocratic Government. We (the Achik’s), are the perfect examples of the three Gandhian monkeys- we hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil. Garo people and their societies, NGOs’, unions and leaders have literally turned deaf, dumb and blind! If you have not had the fortune of receiving a ‘love letter’ from an outfit, it will read something like this… ‘We would like you to donate Rs. ******* since you are making use of the resources of Garo hills’.
Well our leaders too are doing just that, raking in the benefits of our hills just like their off-springs! Have you ever thought how the development of our roads, bridges, water supply and schools never seem to start, or sometimes never stop? The mahari system here is so profound that our leaders distribute work mostly to their own workers, or at times do it themselves in the name of their relatives. The same trend exists as far as MDC elections are concerned. True to their ancestry, the descendents of Gandhian monkeys do not question how their MLAs came to acquire MDC posts too! Perhaps they have not exploited their status enough, that’s why the MDC election that was supposed to take place about a year ago, has been extended for the third time, for another 6 months, on the grounds of amendment of the 6th Schedule. What excuse is in store next – Delimitation Bill? Deciding actual number of seats?
Another genre in which our leaders have shown their profound ‘bhaichara’ instincts is the ceasefire agreement. On one hand, we respect the initiative taken up by the Government to rehabilitate them. But, if they were to start living life as normal persons in the society, shouldn’t they start from scratch as most of us do? If they do join politics then who is to ensure that they will not use fear, or the money that they have collected through extortions and kidnappings, to win? Is there a guarantee that comes along with the agreement? If there is one, then how could they already form a union (NGO) to look after each other, because the first thing about the Ceasefire Agreement is to disband the group, not form a new Group. One fails to see any justification in this and makes one wonder whether it’s just an easy way to convert their illegal money into legal. We, the Achik’s of Garo hills will once again be the ones to face the music both mentally and politically. If hell had to be experienced, this is it, you’re welcome anytime.
Yours etc.,
B Marak,
Via email