SHILLONG, MAY 11: Announcing its first phase of agitation the 13-pro ILP ngos have decided to stage a sit-in-protest even as they have demanded that the state government make its stand clear on their demands to drop all criminal cases registered against them during the 4-month ILP agitations and also the unconditional release of KSU president Daniel Khyriem.
“We have decided to stage a sit-in-demonstration on May 13,” Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) president Joe Marwein told reporters after a meeting of all the ngos on Monday.
The decision was taken after the state government failed to response to the ngos 48-hour deadline to release Khyriem.
The ngos also demanded that chief minister Mukul Sangma and the state government to immediately come out clear to their demands.
“The government should come out clear either through official communication or public announcement about its stand whether it is willing or not to drop all the criminal cases filed against the leaders of various NGOs and to immediate release the KSU president,” Marwein said adding “It is time that whatever was discussed should not end only in the four walls of secretariat.”
Marwein also appealed to all the ngos members to attend the sit-in-demonstration which is proposed to be held at the parking lot near the Additional Secretariat for which permission has been sought and is awaited.
Marwein informed that the ngos will again sit to decide on their future agitation in case the state government does not respond.
Earlier, the State police had also warned of more arrest of pro-ILP ngos leaders who were wanted by the Special Court trying the criminal cases filed against them under MMPO related to the four-month long agitations in 2013.
On Thursday last, Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) presudebt Daniel Khyriem was arrested and sent to 14 days judicial custody following the bailable warrant of arrest issued by the Special Court after he refused to accept the summon notice issued. Khyriem had also refused to avail the bail when offered by the court.
When enquired, Marwein said, “Like Daniel, all the leaders of the ngos are firmed that they will not avail any bail if arrest warrants are going to be executed against them.”
Referring to the meeting held in July last year, Marwein said, “Based on the assurance given by the chief minister to all leaders of ngos that all charges will be dropped, we decided not to pay heed to the summon notices issued by the Special Court thinking that as assured, the government will do what is necessary to be done on this matter.”
Marwein added, “When we have shown our seriousness to come up with comprehensive mechanism, it is the duty of the state government to take care of the issue concerning the charges.”
Reacting to recent stand made by the chief minister that the government will always be guided by ‘legal perspective’, Marwein, however, said, “As per consultation with legal experts, they have made it clear that if the state government is willing, all the charges can be dropped against us.”
Echoing similar views, Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) general secretary Sadon Blah said, “In fact it is a very simple issue as it all depends on the will of the government who is the petitioner whether to drop the case or not.”
On the other hand, KSU general secretary Auguster Jyrwa said, “Now the ball is in the court of the state government and we will leave it to its wisdom,” adding “But, the government should make its stand clear whether it will speed up dropping the criminal charges against us.”
Stating what is more important is for the government to speed up the implementation of the comprehensive mechanism to deal with the issue of influx and illegal immigration, Jyrwa added that the ngos demand that the state government immediately acquire land for the setting up of the entry and exit points besides residential bill and benami act.- By Our Reporter
The Mukul government has betrayed the NGOs . It is high time for the NGOs to comprehend the ideology of the present government under the Chief Minister MUKUL.