Newmai News Network
SHILLONG, SEPTEMBER 22
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he indefinite-economic-strike sponsored by the Movement for Indigenous People’s Rights and Livelihood – Meghalaya (MIPRLM) will be effective across the eleven districts of Meghalaya from tomorrow, in protest against the State government’s failure to address the issue arising out of the blanket ban on coal mining.
“We have decided to go ahead with indefinite strike from September 23 onwards,” MIPRLM vice chairman Erwin K Sutnga said here.
He said that the economic strike will be effective across the state’s national highway wherein all good carrying and commercial vehicles are requested to cooperate with the strike called by the movement.The strike was called after the government failed to comply with its 10 day ultimatum which expired yesterday.
“The situation in the state of Meghalaya arising out of the blanket ban on coal and sand by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has given way to a situation where the Government of Meghalaya has failed to address the needs of the Mining Sector,” he said.
According to him, the economic-strike-call (ESC) is a democratic call to stage a peaceful and non-violent protest against the blanket ban of coal and sand by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and State government complicity in the same.
Sutnga said that the prospect of an intractable attitude and continuous impositions of harsh and anti people conditions by the Government of Meghalaya which continues to play around with the lives and survival of lakhs who now are facing financial privations and dire straits.
“Notice has been given to the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya regarding the ESC,” he said
MIPRL calls upon all affected people to support the Economic Strike Call (ESC).
The vice chairman also said apart from those directly affected, we also call upon all right thinking people to come and join the protest because there is no section of society in Meghalaya in particular and many parts of India that have not been affected by the arbitrary orders of the NGT in this matter.
He further stated that the strike is totally based on the legitimate demand to implement the 10 point issues submitted to the Chief Minister of Meghalaya on August 29 at Polo Grounds and September 3.
MIPRL reiterates the need to implement Para 12 A Sub Para (b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India to protect the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Peoples’ inalienable and absolute rights over tribal land and our unique land holding system and traditional rights and customs, he said.
He added, this demand includes the modification of all Central Laws applied to the state of Meghalaya done without recourse to the mandatory provisions of Para 12 A Sub Para (b).
The MIPRL also calls upon trade unions, associations and Government employees, Banks and financial institutions to lend support to the ESC.
MIPRL will neither support nor condone any act of coercion, use of force, threat or violence, arson leading to loss of private and public property, loss and/or injury of life and limb, Sutnga stated.
The movement has also been demanding the immediate address of the economic hardship of the poor and those badly affected in the coal belts and relief measures to be instituted.
Apart, it has also demanded the government to come out with a moratorium on payment of installments of loans from Banks financial institutions and Private Financiers availed by people in the mining sector amongst others.
Further, Sutnga stated that the ESC will not affect private and small commercial vehicles within Meghalaya, schools, colleges, offices, markets, transporters and traders of sand, stone and chips which means normal life in general for the local people.
All participation in the ESC should be non violent and there should be no deviance from democratic protest, he reiterated adding the strike will not hamper essential and emergency services.
