The removal of the Syiem of Hima Nongspung in 2019 was against the rules of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and was politically motivated, the nephews of the then Syiem said today.
The KHADC had suspended Patrick Syiemiong in 2019 and replaced him with Tiewborlang Syiemlieh as the traditional king of Hima Nongspung, ostensibly after allegations that he had given permission to the Assam government to construct roads in the area.
Patrick Syiemiong’s nephews, Kyntiewlang Syiemiong, Arnestar Syiemiong and Bhabok Syiemiong addressed a press conference today where they revealed details from Right to Information (RTI) requests that they received answers to last September.
“As per the RTI from the KHADC, it revealed that there are no such records that our uncle had issued the NOC (no-objection certificate) to the government of Assam for construction of the road and there are also no records pertaining to other allegations that our uncle granted a ‘Sanad’ as per his wish and fancies and sold lands belonging to the Hima,” Bhabok Syiemiong said.
What surprises the family more, he added, is that there is apparently no record of a resolution taken by the inquiry committee that was constituted by the KHADC’s Executive Committee even though it had claimed that the inquiry report against Patrick Syiemiong had been submitted to the District Council Court. This and other instances are violations of the norms of the KHADC, including the laws regarding the appointment and succession of Syiems.
“This is pure suppression to our Chief and the Syiemiong clan and pure violation of the customary practices of the Hima by the KHADC and we will not allow such injustice to prevail,” he concluded.
