The Khasi ethnic clan organisation, Synjuk Ki Rangbah Kur Ka Bri U Hynñiewtrep conducted a ceremonial confirmation of its unit in Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills district.
More than a hundred clan elders from across South West Khasi Hills participated in the meeting where a wide range of issues were spoken about by some leaders of both the central body and the unit with participation of other elders.
Some of the vital deliberations are the Clan Administration Bill, Clan Lineage Bill, and other aspects that affect the rights of the indigenous people of the State.
Advocate Erwin K Syiem Sutnga spoke about the Forest and Environment Amendment Act and the Uniform Civil Code. He reminded about the blanket ban of timber and forest products by the central government in 1996, and cautioned that the provision of the new act would be tantamount to taking ownership of almost the entire forest lands and waste lands all over the North Eastern region.
He said though the intention is for the well-being of humanity in curbing the dangers of global warming, Sutnga said that the people and traditional institutions should be proactive to defend their legitimate rights and not to succumb to the control of the central government agencies over the ownership of natural properties through generations.
The elected office bearers of the organisation who were confirmed at the ceremony were former CEM of KHADC Mansturdy Nongrem as President, Wallambok Syiemiong (Vice President), B Ioannis Shylla (General Secretary), and six executive members.
Shylla outlined the need to bring together all the ethnic clans within its fold and strengthen the movement of the clan organisation for the entire Khasi and Jaintia Hills region.
The confirmation ceremony was conducted by R L Kharpran, Vice President of the central body in presence of Aristotle Lyngdoh, Kynsai Syiem, Ialamlin Lyngdoh, Raphael Warjri and a few other executive members from the central body.
