Shillong: Meghalaya government on Wednesday briefed different stakeholders about the understanding that Meghalaya and Assam governments have arrived at on the border talks, especially on the 6 areas of differences.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed that they have shared micro details but weren’t able to give hard copies to them. The government shared which villages, areas and what ethnicity in which area is there, and how both the governments decided on particular areas.
He also informed that some organisations had concerns and gave suggestions. The chief minister added that the organisations have expressed their desire to see the copy of the report but have been asked to wait till a meeting with the Union Home ministry.
NGOs like Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Federation of Khasi Jaintia Garo People (FKJGP), Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC), Hynñiewtrep National Youth Federation (HNYF), among others were part of the meeting held in Shillong.
All the NGOs have unanimously decided not to agree on anything as yet and preferred to sit and discuss on what was briefed by the state government today.
KSU president Lambok Marngar said the organisation will sit and discuss to constitute a team to visit the six areas of differences. Marngar said they will interact with the people living in those disputed areas and understand if they are happy with the recommendations made by both the state governments.
“It doesn’t mean we reject the report but it’s a fact that nothing has been given in writing, which is difficult to accept,” states Marngar.
HNYF general secretary Sadon Blah said there wasn’t any proper consultation and there was a lack of clarity from the side of the government.
“It was more of a hearing that we came to attend. Before the government decided on this report, we are not sure if the government has fully heard the voice of the traditional heads or the people living in the border areas. It was not a consultative meeting but just to give us a presentation on where the government has reached concerning the border issue.”
Meanwhile, HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin said the organisation has objected to the acceptance of adverse position by any of the state governments to determine the border dispute. “No decision was taken in today’s meeting with the state government; all the NGOs agreed not to decide on anything that the government presented to us,” said Kharjahrin.
He added, “It is hard for us to agree on anything that the government just presents verbally. What if later it doesn’t sync with what the government has recommended in its report.”
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