Editor,
Shillong has become famous for its huge garbage dumps. In almost every corner of the city we will find piles of garbage. Roadsides are filled with garbage and drains are blocked by huge dumps. Garbage has certainly become a part of our lives.People going for early morning walks have to inhale the toxic fumes of burnt garbage which is hazardous to health. Manyplaces in the city have been turned into regular garbage dumps area. The Garikhana Point near the Sumo stand is used as a garbage dump.People throw garbage there every night. Sometimes this garbage dump is left uncollected throughout the day, making it hard for people to pass by. The passers-by also have to endure the foul odour too. Sometimes the garbage spills over into the road and causes a lot of trouble to passing vehicles. Is the MLA listening/ Shillong Municipality listening?
Yours etc.,
Skhemithij Pariat
Shillong-02
Former militant as peaceinterlocutor?
Editor,
To hear someone like Julius Dorphang suddenly offering himself as a negotiator between the government and the HNLC is amusing. People are not fools, nor have we ever forgotten that Dorphang was the selfstyled Chairman of the outfit he deserted and under the guidance of politicians he self “surrendered” with a promise for an election ticket. And what we have now is criminalisation of the political system which has created a precedent of sorts for anyone aiming to become a so called ‘ legislator ‘ or in short ” nongiada ia ka Ri bad Jaidbynriew” ( protector of the community and its race). Such people will join an outfit or maybe form one till a suitable time.The government itself is not serious with the matter or else it should not play along but address such issues at the earliest. As a saving grace for this Government it would be wiser to have an expert hostage negotiator for reasons best known rather than the other way round.
Yours etc.,
Dominic S. Wankhar
Shillong-3
Plastic menace
Editor,
Apropos the news item in your esteemed daily,”Plastic overtakes Meghalaya; ban remains infructuous” (ST March 16,2015), it is notable that the menace of plastic shopping bags becomes the cynosure of all eyes while the harmless looking little plastic packets where we get our beloved kwai and also fruits and berries from all hawkers of Shillong seems to have escaped the attention of all. But these little plastic packets are choking up all streams and drains in the city if one cares to look around while walking. The health hazards of eating seasonal fruits and berries cut and sold in these transparent plastic packets may elude the logical thinking of the general public as these plastic bags/packets do not pinch anyone’s pocket. So a prohibition or ban in the use of plastic bags is not going to change the already plastic-polluted scene, unless the public has to part with his hard-earned money for a plastic bag. Having alternatives on hand is the need of the hour together with the habit of recycling and reusing a single plastic bag for shopping.
Yours etc.,
Sangita Rabha,
Via email
Other side of CI Ops
Editor,
The report GNLA ambush claims 4 cops (ST Mar 11,2015) has once again raised doubts on the counter insurgency tactics and internal security in Garo Hills. The current Director General of Police, Mr Rajiv Mehta on his part had clearly defined that there is no deadline to counter-insurgency operations (CIOps) in Garo Hills. I would agree that there is no silver bullet when it comes to CI Ops Lieutenant Colonel David Kilcullen retired counter-insurgency advisor to General David Petraeus once said that counter-in-surgency is fundamentally a competition between each side to mobilize the population in support of its agenda. The police department and intelligence agencies should understand why and how the insurgents are getting followers. The enemy is robust, adaptive and resourceful and staying one step ahead is always important. Aggressive intelligence operations and zeroing on real time actionable intelligence using covert and overt means becomes handy.What our leaders and bureaucrats should understand is that counter-insurgency is all about supporting and protecting the local population because the centre of gravity is always the people. The need of the hour for our government is to embed counter-insurgency advisors and trainers with local forces. Building interpersonal relationships in order to obtain intelligence the same way General Stanley McChrystal former NATO commander stressed forces to spend more time outside their vehicles and to show more interest in both the needs and grievances of the people. Lastly ‘learning more from one’s mistakes than one achievements is a valid axiom.
Yours etc.,
Christpher Gatphoh,
Shillong -14