Editor,
Border conflicts are the products of aggression between nations or countries or states that are bordering each other. Mostly, it is aggression from one party or sometimes, both. Borders are not just physical barriers, but also psychological barriers between neighbouring countries and states. When conflicts at the borders occur, the uncertainty continues for those who live close to those borders, where such conflicts are quite frequent. During conflicts in border areas, basic human rights are severely violated and compromised.
On July 26, clashes were reported from a border village of Iongkhuli under Jirang Constituency. It was alleged that Assam police personnel removed four electric poles erected by the employees of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) in the village. During this event, a confrontation occurred between the residents of the area and personnel of Assam Police. It was also learnt that the MDC of Mawhati, Charles Marngar was also pushed or we can term it as ‘manhandled’ by some Assam Police personnel when he went to intervene following which they had to allow Assam to remove the poles in order to avoid any further violence.
According to Union Home Ministry reports, Assam is part of at least four of seven border disputes in the country. It has border disputes with neighbouring states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya. During an escalation of the long-standing border dispute between Assam and Mizoram on Monday, at least five Assam Police personnel were killed and over 60 injured. However, this is not the first time that border disputes between Assam and other northeastern states have turned violent. In all of this, it is amusing to once again evaluate the role of our Home Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui and his Department. Although the Ri-Bhoi additional magistrate, Superintendent of the Police and senior officials who arrived at the spot were able to defuse the situation from escalating further, MDC Charles Marngar had expressed his concern stating that Meghalaya Police were late in arriving at the scene. This then makes us question the competence and functioning of the Home Department and the minister in charge.
This is not the first time that tensions have escalated in our State under the watch of the present Home Minister. Series of events, communal riots or conflicts seem to occur every now and again in Meghalaya. Whether it is the communal riots that had taken place in February last year at Ichamati when a Khasi man was killed in a clash with non-tribals or the Golf Links incident in which another young man lost his life, all these incidents clearly point to the deteriorating law and order situation in our State, while the recent turmoil at Iongkhuli just makes us once again question the incompetence of Rymbui, who also is holding the portfolio of Border Areas Development besides the Home Department. The concerned minister has not been effectively performing his role if we may clearly put it so, no matter what portfolio he is handling.
Presently, the deteriorating law and order situation and border disputes make us question his role as the Home Minister, and the deteriorating education system based on the recent PGI report makes us question his effectiveness as the Education Minister. It is also a matter of shame that there was once a time when the UDP had questioned the competence of a minister who was handling the Home portfolio and they rejoiced when someone from their Party got to sit on the same chair because of regional aspirations. Now a minister from the UDP is not performing effectively. On the contrary he is leading the State to a sinkhole.
I think it is also due season now for us as citizens to evaluate the performance of our ministers who we elect as representatives to look into the welfare of the State and its citizens. It is time to not be afraid and take a stand when we see a certain representative not performing effectively and question if they are fit enough to sit on the chair that has been handed over to them. After all, the government is for the people and we are the ones who elect them.
Yours etc.,
Maitshaphrang Khongwir
Shillong – 8
Inter-state boundary issue
Editor,
We have governments who are indolent and insensitive, while the State’s boundary lines are being shifted inwards by a neighbouring State with impunity. An intriguing statement by our representative (s) of “give-and-take” policy by “both sides” is laughable because it had never been reported that Meghalaya had trespassed into Assam territory.
A specific requirement for securing the border with neighbouring states is to possess relevant maps which should be acceptable internationally; but, our State government does not have any! This was revealed when RTI activist, Agnes Kharshiing sought information about the maps from the concerned department and was told that the vol.4 of “Compilation of State and Districts Maps of Meghalaya” is missing! Dare we expect that our Honble CM may throw some light on this matter? Or is he above being accountable for this lapse on the part of his minions?
Yours etc.,
Morning Star Sumer,
Shillong – 2
Race to the bottom
Editor,
The recently inducted Minister to the Cabinet must surely love the taste of his foot going by his recent remarks on the ILP and corruption. To utter such callous and nonsensical statements in the capacity of a cabinet minister surely does take talent and he has no dearth when it comes to it. The joke is on us that such so-called honourable ministers are there to frame laws and policies for us the common citizens.
I would humbly request him to conduct sessions on how to steal without getting caught as stated by him, since he seems to have the expertise and the know-how on the same. All non-voters for the BJP seem to be non-Indians since we will not be beneficiaries of free vaccines, schemes, projects, etc unless we vote for them. This is what it has come to with the politics of the BJP and its centralized power structure. Sadly for us, we carry the tag of a bought-out state and though with just two BJP MLAs we have totally surrendered all our self-respect to the Masters at Delhi. The recent short and sweet fresh air, state tour of the Home Minister bears testimony to that.
I can’t state much for our own regional party representatives who have a stake in this Government but are more concerned with their own personal power and clout and the fear of losing it.
The race to the bottom has surely begun and everyone is aiming for gold…
Yours etc.,
Robert R Khongwir,
Via email