SHILLONG, Oct 22 NNN: Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), the largest militant out based in Meghalaya fighting for the self determination of the Khasi people has asked the government of India to repatriate the Bengalis from the Hynniewtrep soil (land of the Khasi people) before the next assembly election of Meghalaya due early next year. The HNLC also demanded that the armed forces and its political machineries should be withdrawn by the government. Sainkupar Nongtraw, the publicity of the HNLC issued this press communique today to mark the 24th death anniversary of Wickliffe Sing Syiem, who was among the first leaders to convince the Hynniewtrep (Khasi) leaders to shape the federation of Khasi states in 1947. Wickliffe Sing Syiem was also the founder of “ Hynniewtrep Nationalism,” according to the HNLC. Chronicling the events, the HNLC said on May 16,1946 the British Cabinet Mission released its statement known as the ’16th May 1946 Mission Statement’. “Para 15th of the above statement states that units of state would fall under the supervision of the Indian government on three areas mainly the Defence, the Foreign Affairs and Communication. “However , when India achieved its Independence , the Standstill Agreement was broken only with in six months since the day it came into force.This was done by compelling the Hynniewtrep ‘ syiems ‘ to immediately sign the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement (document that pertained to the accession and common agreement on annexation of Hynniewtrep states to the Indian Union),” the HNLC alleged. The HNLC then stated that the Hynniewtrep kings were very much opposed to signing the documents but were helpless at that point of time as, under duress and with guns pointed at them; they had no other way but to sign the same. As other kings had opposed to this act of coercion by the Indian Government, Wickliffe Sing Syiem joined hands with the Hynniewtrep Kings in going against the Indian Union, It was the Indian national Congress under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru which was responsible for forcefully signing the Instrument of Accession and annexed agreement at gunpoint, it added. The government of India should clarify its stand as to why was the Standstill Agreement that was signed on the 9th of August 1947 terminated forcefully, the Khasi outfit demanded. “And this was done in just six months of time instead of two years which was decided. This is a clear cut manipulation of the Indian Government and the council seeks its clarification on this matter from the government of India. It is a matter of astonishment for the HNLC to find out that the Traditional chiefs are instead demanding for the article 371. And this also signifies that they are not yet conscious of the worth of the Standstill agreement. It is the double standards of the government of India which had imposed restrictions on the entry of Wickliffe Sing Syiem into the Hynniewtrep land when he was on a tour into Pakistan for trade relations. If the government of India considers that the rights of people exists, as per the declaration of the U.N.O to the Indigenous people of the world. Then Subsequently the government of India should recognize the rights of Self determination and self governance to the Hynniewtrep and its people,” the HNLC said. “The government of India by any means should withdraw the armed forces and its political machineries at the earliest from the Hynniewtrep soil, if at all it wants peace and normalcy to draw closer once again.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/hnlc-demands-withdrawal-of-troops/
