Meghalaya chief minister stresses connectivity

Mukul Sangma
Refayet Ullah Mirdha Bangladesh should increase connectivity with the northeastern states of India for the development of the entire region, the chief minister of Meghalaya said yesterday.
Bangladesh should also come up with massive investment in those states as they have vast resources, said Mukul Sangma.
Sangma spoke to The Daily Star in an interview on the sidelines of a luncheon meeting of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) at Sonargaon Hotel in the city.
He along with three other chief ministers of India came to Bangladesh as the entourage of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Sangma refused to comment on Paschimbangla (West Bengal) Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's cancellation of her visit to Bangladesh with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He also asked Bangladesh to look at the entire region, not at any particular state. He expected that the future bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India will be good.
Both the countries have the opportunities to resolve any problem through discussion, said Sangma.
“The north-eastern part of India is a 'virgin area' with a lot of resources. We can explore the opportunities together for the future generation,” he said.
He also stressed the need for increasing economic, social and people-to-people connectivity of this region.
The Bangladeshi businessmen have also big investment opportunities in the north-eastern region of India, Sangma said.
Increasing the connectivity will create opportunities for both the countries. In his brief interview, he said the businessmen of Bangladesh can invest in tourism, health and education sectors of north-east India.

Meghalaya college teachers to cease work

SHILLONG, Sept 8 – Members of the Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA) will embark on a ceasework from September 9 to 15 when the State Assembly will have its Monsoon session.

Their demands include extension of the revised pay according to the recommendations of the Meghalaya Fourth Pay Commission for teachers of seven ad-hoc colleges, release of arrears for teachers of 15 deficit colleges, who enjoy the UGC payscale, pension scheme and the re-instatement of all allowances.

MCTA general secretary Eureka Lyngdoh said, “Over 500 ad-hoc college teachers under the MCTA will resort to strike”. He alleged that the government lacked seriousness in addressing concerns in higher education and that the government attitude casts serious doubt on its commitment to education in the State.

Peru Approves New Law on Prior Consultation

On August 23, the Peruvian Congress approved a new law that guarantees Indigenous peoples' right to prior consultation around legislative and administrative measures as well as plans, programs, and projects that impact them and their rights ("Ley de derecho a la consulta previa a los pueblos indígenas u originarios reconocido en el Convenio No. 169 de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo"). President Ollanta Humala signed the new law, which is the first to be approved by the current Parliament and was passed with no votes against and no abstentions, on 6 September in the province of Bagua. The Law on Prior Consultation is intended to comply with certain commitments set out in the 1989 International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 169 and the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Amazon Watch reports that AIDESEP, a Peruvian Indigenous Amazonian federation, expressed support for the new law, but also concern about implementation, stating that "until [the government agency] INDEPA, the National Organization for the Development of Andean, Amazonian and Afro Peruvian Peoples truly implements this new law, we will not be caught in false triumphs." James Anaya, the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, congratulated the Congress and also called for adequate implementation. According to a press release, Anaya said, “I hope that this is indicative of a strong commitment by the Peruvian State to respond to the demands of indigenous peoples to be consulted about measures that directly affect them, and in particular about extractive industry projects in and around their territories.” This UK Guardian article explores the broader context within which the law was passed, particularly conflict arising over large-scale development and extraction projects in Indigenous territories.

Crime against women on the rise in Meghalaya

SHILLONG: The Civil Society Women Organization (CSWO) has expressed concern over the frequent reports of rape cases in different parts of Meghalaya, particularly sexual violence against minors.

In a press statement issued here, CSWO general secretary Evangeline Thabah said, "One of the reasons will be the low rate of conviction when it comes to rape cases and the spread of pornographic videos and X-rated CDs. It's the insensitivity of some police personnel, especially in Jaintia Hills, to such crimes, which can be attributed to non-conviction as the cases are haphazardly investigated."

"The police deter and do not take seriously such cognizable crimes, especially when the perpetrator is well connected," a social activist said.

The CSWO has urged the government to take stringent steps against such crimes by initiating thorough investigation into rape cases and also expedite investigation by setting specific time limits. It also called for setting up of separate medical units to deal with sexual assaults so that the victims are not subjected to further humiliation.

The organization also urged the government to take action against 'erring' police officers who "mislead the people and help the perpetrators". The CSWO said bails should not be granted to perpetrators and called upon authorities to ensure that magistrates were available to take down statements of the victims and witnesses.

Besides, the women's organization wanted all rape cases to be transferred to Fast Track Courts besides provision of adequate compensation to the victims.

Meghalaya, despite being predominantly inhabited by tribal communities who follow the matrilineal system, has been witness to crimes against the fairer sex over the years. "Women here are not free from male domination as is the case in other parts of the country," said a woman activist.

Meghalaya orders probe into ANVC’s ‘secret’ killings

Shillong Sept 3 (IANS) The Meghalaya government Friday announced a high-level probe into the ‘secret killings’ of tribal Garo people by A’chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) rebels in the state.

ANVC, considered the most powerful militant group in Garo Hills, but currently in a tripartite ceasefire agreement with the central and state governments, has been accused by its rival group, the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) of indulging in secret killings.

‘Since the allegations are serious, we have constituted an inquiry committee to probe into these allegations of secret killings by ANVC in the Garo Hills,’ Chief Secretary W.M.S.Pariat told journalists here.

Peter W. Ingty, the divisional commissioner, has been appointed to probe into killing. ‘We have given him a month’s time to submit his findings to the state government,’ Pariat said.

A GNLA leader alleged many innocent Garo youths were silently killed by ANVC and their bodies were buried in unmarked graves at ANVC’s designated camp at Samanda and behind their liaison office at Tura.

In fact, the GNLA has threatened a four-day shutdown beginning Sep 9, if the government fails to investigate the ANVC’s secret killings.

Meghalaya to set up anti-infiltration directorate

Shillong, Sept 2 (PTI) Meghalaya government today decided to set up an anti-infiltration directorate to deal with the problem of influx.After chairing a meeting of the task force on influx, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said the directorate will be set up before October 15."It will have a dedicated force and will work under the Home Department," he said.Though earlier it was decided that registration of the labourers will be facilitated at the block levels by the BDOs, Sangma said as the BDOs were overburdened, the government would be setting up inspectorates at all the blocks and the officers in the section would be dedicated with the task of addressing the issues related to influx."The issue of infiltration by foreign nationals is not only confined to the international border but also to the inter-state boundaries and it is not addressed exclusively by the agencies under the state government. We have pressed the Centre for enhanced presence of BSF along the international border," the Chief Minister said.Task forces will be set up in the districts, headed by the DCs, and they will be engaged in ensuring complete registration of the labours and inter-state migrants who have settled here temporarily for jobs or other business.Sangma also said the state was contemplating issuing identity cards to all bonafide citizens of the state.

Meghalaya govt silent on HNLC chief's killing

Shillong: The Meghalaya government on Thursday neither confirmed nor denied a report about the killing of the commander-in-chief of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) in Bangladesh.

"The issue involves matters happening across the international border and I cannot confirm. I have sought for a report from the union home ministry and after I get information from New Delhi I can confirm this," he told reporters.

According to a Delhi report in a national daily, the HNLC 'c-in-c' Bobby Marwein was killed in a brawl with criminals in Dhaka this week.

Top police officials also said they were yet to confirm the report.

Significant, the CM, however, added, "Indo-Bangladesh relations in recent months have gained momentum with both sides taking steps to create a congenial atmosphere that could ultimately pave the way for broader bilateral, sub-regional and regional cooperation".

"We do not want that hostile elements of our country should be given shelter to perpetrate criminal activities against us from there (Bangladesh)."

Chief Minister Sangma will also accompany the PM to the neighbouring country, during which the CM is expected to raise issues relating to cross-border trade and movement of militants.