Dorbar threatened to join Adelbert strike

SHILLONG, MAY 21: Mounting press for the approval of the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2014, Thynroid dorbar shnong members have threatened to join the ongoing ‘indefinite hunger strike’ by former KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum seeking immediate approval of the pending bill.

Thynroid dorbar shnong secretary Harkin Warjri told newsmen during a press conference, “We extend our full support to Nongrum and if situation demands, we are ready to join the indefinite hunger strike.”

Expressing concern over the present situation that arose out of the last year’s Meghalaya High Court ruling which clipped the powers of traditional institutions, Warjri said, “The need of the hour is for everybody to fight in a democratic way to protect and preserve the rights of the indigenous community.”

Stating that headmen are the backbone of the traditional system of the indigenous society since time immemorial, the village secretary said, “But if their powers are being taken away, the district council, the himas and the village durbars will also become extinct.”

The dorbar shnong also urged all concerned including political parties and citizens to come forward and support Nongrum’s ongoing agitation as it said it is for the interest of the indigenous community.

Nongrum and a youth supporter Goldy Warjri are staging their indefinite hunger strike which has entered its 6^th day, demanding the state government to immediately pass the KHAD (Village Administration) Bill, 2014 and get the Governor’s assent at the earliest.

“We also urged the clans of both Nongrum and Warjri to also come forward and spread the message of unity in support of Adelbert and Goldy on the issue, which is crucial for us at this hour,” Warjri said while also appealing to people especially from rural areas to extend their support to ensure the government’s pass the bill.

Maintaining that the dorbar will not oppose the recent ordinance approved by the state cabinet, Warjri however said, “But I wonder what a six-month ordinance will do to resolve our issue when there has been attempt to scrap even the existing customary laws which was there for decades.”

Warjri came down heavily on the failure of the 60 legislators of the state assembly as well as the 30 MDCs of the Autonomous District Council to put pressure on the government to approve the bill.- By Our Reporter