JOWAI:
The meeting among the Hynniewtrep Border Dispute Redressal Forum (HBDRF), traditional heads and NGOs on Saturday strongly opposed the state government’s move to first resolve the Psiar-Khanduli sector instead of taking steps to ensure Block I & II are retransferred to Meghalaya.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting held at Jowai here, HBDRF spokesperson Thomas Passah said, “We have decided to come together as one force, one voice and one agenda to ensure that Block I & II are brought back to Meghalaya.”
“We have also decided to straight away reject any attempt of the regional committee or the state government to address the Psiar-Khanduli sector (separately),” he said while adding “Our stand has been very clear — that Block I & II have to be discussed in toto as Psiar and Khanduli is part of Block I.”
“Therefore, as per information, we have received information that there is an attempt from the government to talk only on Psiar and Khanduli and if there is truth in it, we would like to put before the government that we are totally against it and that we will not support the government on such a decision,” he added.
Passah, who is also the working president of the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), said Dollois and headmen from the area have informed the meeting about the failure of the regional committee to fully include them in its border discussion and rather only used them as “postmen” to bring and submit documents.
“So, we see that the functioning of this regional committee is somehow not going on the right path. We have always stated that the Dollois have to be fully involved in the decisions taken by the regional committee contrary to the report we received today,” he said.
Further, the meeting has decided to write to the state government yet again on its stand before the second phase of border talks is finalised.
Recalling a statement by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong that Block I & II are never part of the areas of difference as they only required to be transferred back to Meghalaya, Passah said, “Personally, I don’t think we can trust the government because it has been taking a back stand on its own statement. The fact is this, I would go with what the deputy CM said about retransferring Block I& II to Meghalaya. Now if we look at the core issue, why was Block I & II included in Karbi Anglong in the 1951 notification. At that time, there was no Meghalaya, we were part of Assam. So there was no dispute of boundary between Meghalaya and Assam. This notification was issued in 1951 wherein the Pnar areas have been included in the Karbi Anglong – the objective was just for administrative efficiency so that people who are staying in Khanduli dont have to come to Jowai sub-division and can get their administrative work done nearby. “
He continued: “So the objective of the 1951 notification does not arise anymore after 1972 as1972 by default the 1951 notification has been superseded and Block I& II should have been back with the state of Meghalaya but for many reasons, our leaders at that time they did not see the larger picture and the suffering of the people in the border for the years to come.”
He further reiterated that, “All people of Jaintia Hills with one voice, we want retransfer of Block I & II and if the deputy chief minister is making a statement that it was never a disputed area, we want to see that in action and let us hope that the long awaiting hopes of the people in Block I & II will be resolved this time.”
To a question, the forum’s spokesman warned that “If the state decides to go ahead with resolving Psiar-Khanduli sector separately, we will have to resort to other ways and means … because if Khanduli and Psiar is being addressed now it means by default we have lost the rest of Block I which will be a very sad day for the people of the state.”
According to him, there are over 36 villages under Block I area.