JSU warns KSA against provocative statements amid border talks

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 18, 2023

In the midst of ongoing border negotiations between the Assam and Meghalaya Governments in search of a solution, the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) has raised concerns about potential communal tensions with the Karbi community in the disputed areas of Block I and II.

In a statement on Friday, the General Secretary of JSU, Treiborlang R Suchen, cautioned the leader of the Karbi Students’ Association (KSA) against making provocative statements that might incite unrest. Instead, JSU urged the KSA leader to allow the people to make their decisions without undue influence.

This statement from JSU comes in response to a presaged by KSA President Mirjeng Kro, who stated, “If we lose our lands to Meghalaya, then a Manipur-like situation will happen.” Kro also firmly asserted that “our boundary of Karbi Anglong has been constitutionally defined” and there is no ground as to why should their lands should be transfer back to Meghalaya.

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JSU clarified that Block I is not governed by a constitutional boundary or agreement. They highlighted that, in fact, Block I was forcibly separated from the United Khasi Jaintia Hills in 1951 for administrative convenience.

“We assert that the residents of Block 1 have the legitimate right to demand the return to the Jaintia hills region in Meghalaya. Additionally, we caution the KSA leader that their association should bear responsibility in case any communal conflicts arise in both Meghalaya and Assam,” emphasized Treiborlang in the statement.