Shillong, May 11: Advisor to the traditional heads of Hima Sohra, Laborious Manik S. Syiem has criticised the VPP leader Ardent Basaiawmoit for politicising the appointment of Sohra Syiem.
Addressing a press conference on Monday (May 11), Syiem said that the party politics will destroy the traditional institutions.
Full text of the statement below
“In response to the political street meeting held by Bah Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on May 7, 2026, I wish to state unequivocally: we will not be embroiled in street-level party politics or whatever party politics you may call. Our struggle is dedicated to ensuring that party politics does not creep in to destroy the five sacred pillars of our traditional Dorbar system: (i) Dorbar ling, (ii) Dorbar Kur, (iii) Dorbar Shnong, (iv) Dorbar Raid, and (v) Dorbar Hima. These grassroots democratic systems have survived the test of time and centuries; they remain the ultimate binding force for “Ki Khun Ki Ksiew Hynniew Trep Hynniew Basa.”
We stand resolute in our fight to uphold and protect these sacred traditions against any authority that seeks to replace our systems. We will never allow party politics to creep in, for we know that if our customs and traditions die, our very existence is called into question. On May 7, 2026, the Dorbar Khlieh ki Nongsynshar Hima Sohra bad ki khun ki hajar jong ka, stood against the injustice perpetrated by the KHADC against the traditional essence of electing a Syiem by the Hima Sohra and “Ki Khun Ki Hajar Of Hima Sohra.” We marched to the District Council to demand that this injustice be rectified immediately.
While we sought redress from the appropriate authorities, it is a pathetic state of affairs that you, Bah Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit chose to frame this as a party issue during your political hate speech at Mawlai. I make my statement clear, now and forever: My job is never to prove I am right, my job is to keep the light on until “ki khun ki hajar ka ri 30 Syiem 12 doloi” find the right path.
As one of the descendants of the “kur syiem,” I am one among the thousands of the “7 trep 7 basa” who have inherited the responsibility to protect and uphold the customs and traditions that bind our people together. The land we inherit is the living legacy of our ancestors and with it, comes the responsibility to defend the dignity, faith, customs and rights of our people. As custodians of this heritage, we must ensure that as we receive we are duty bound to pass it on to the next generation.
Bah Ardent, in your chase of a political chair, you seem willing to trample on the very essence of the five-tier Dorbar system that ensures our survival, I ask you, please, desist from such steps. Furthermore, you have scandalized the innocent and honest demand of “ki khun ki hajar of hima sohra” to have the Syiem they chose according to the custom and religious rites of Hima Sohra,. You branded these innocent people as NPP sympathizers, failing to see that their binding force is not party politics, but a love for the time-tested traditions inherited from their forefathers based on the tenets and the wisdom of our ancestors.
They went to the KHADC to demand a certificate of confirmation, a duty, the District Council is bound to perform. You are an MLA, not an MDC; your role is in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. Why interfere here?
Bah Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit it is very sad that you branded the innocent people of Hima Sohra as NPP supporters. Also, at the same time you insinuate that I am an NPP member. Let me make it clear to you, one and all that I am not so. My conviction is to always stand up to any injustice done to anyone and in any form. I ask you to correct this statement and desist from making such statements henceforth, for if you do not do so, remember “ha ka hok ka shi kyntien, ka jingjler bad ka jingthok kan sa bishar bad kyrtoh kylla”.
Paiem Laborious Manik S. Syiem, Advisor Synjuk ki khlieh Nongsynshar Hima Sohra
