HAILAKANDI, July 4 ? In a memorandum to the Governor of Assam through the Deputy Commissioner of Hailakandi, the Hailakandi District Jaintia Darbar alleged the violation of human rights as well as constitutional rights as enshrined in the Preamble and the fundamental rights given in the Constitution of India.
The Darbar further alleged that the minority Jaintia people are living in very deplorable conditions and the Jaintia-inhabited places of Barak valley do not have pure drinking water supply, electricity, medical facilities and other infrastructural facilities including road communication. The memorandum said that the authorities treat the Jaintia people as second class citizen of the country and they are living in sub-human conditions. The memorandum further said, ?..... we are compelled to assume the same as a design on the part of the authority to suppresse and exploit the indigenous poor Jaintia people in order to drive them out from their own homeland silently.? They expressed concern over this and said that their traditional identity is under threat and on the verge of extinction.
The demands mentioned by the Darbar in the memorandum are ? immediate exclusion of Assam Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 from the tribal areas as it is harmful to the traditional tribal institutions and extension of article 244(2) of the Constitution of India in the tribal areas of Barak Valley to create the Jaintia Autonomous Regional and Village Council comprising their predominant areas for the protection of their distinct identity and all-round development.
It also demanded the implementation of Panchanan Brahma Committee Report, 1979 (SC/ST Assembly Committee report) regarding the creation of tribal belts and blocks comprising the tribal villages in Cachar district. Some of the other demands of the Darbar are reservation of two Assembly seats for the scheduled tribe people of Barak valley on rotation basis to ensure political share in the State legislature, establishment of tribal museum and tribal cultural complex in Silchar, Karimganj and Hailakandi to promote and protect the indigenous tribal culture in accordance with the clause 8 and 9 of Assam Accord in 1985 and Article 29 of the Constitution of India, construction of tribal handloom shed under the funds of NEC and DONER to promote and protect the colourful tribal handlooms of Barak Valley and extension of developmental works in the remote and tribal villages of Barak Valley under MP?s local area development fund.
The memorandum mentioned that to reflect the composite population patterns of the society in the State, the existing census system should be modified. They demanded the exclusion of CrPC Act, 1973 and IPC from the tribal areas to enable them to exercise tribal customary laws. In the memorandum, the Jaintia Darbar extended the support to the demands of the Barman-Cachari, Meira Paibi, Reang, Hmar and the Rongmei Naga people of Barak valley.
Some of the additional demands mentioned in the memorandum are ? immediate transfer of Block I & II of Cachar district to Meghalaya, creation of Rengma Naga, Khasi-Pnar, Kuki, Dimasa and Garo Autonomous Regional and Village Council comprising their predominant areas in the Bokajan, Diphu and Hamren sub-division in accordance with the Article 244(2) of the Constitution of India, renaming of Masimpur Cantonment as Bir Sambhudan Cantonment and Kumbhirgram airport of Silchar as Bir Sambhudan Airport, revocation of Illegal Migrants (determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983 and holding of talks with the militant groups of Assam for the lasting peace in Assam. The memorandum was signed by the President Wee Suchiang, general secretary Warles Suchiang and other office bearers of Jaintia Darbar.