Tura, Jan 25: The civil society, NGOs and others gather at Tura today to pledge for peace. The meeting took a resolution to appeal to all militant groups to shun violence and come forward to fine out ways and means to bring peace in Meghalaya and particularly in Garo Hills.
The ‘Peace Summit’, initiated by A’chik Mothers’ Association (AMA),
discussed the utter lawlessness in Garo hills. It also focused on the
causes, which has led to growing insurgency.
An interim body – ‘Unified Peace Movement for Garo hills’ was
constituted to urge the outfits to shun violence. The body will come
up with a final resolution in consultation with the people to make an
earnest appeal for peace, harmony and solidarity.
The body will take up the clarion call for peace with people,
government and the outfits. The interim body is headed by former
health minister Mariam D Shira and Heneritha R Marak, a former
government official.
Today’s initiative demonstrated the views of the youths, women and
senior citizens. It clearly portrayed that people of Garo hills, seek
peace and harmony.
Most of them, who were part of the summit suggested co-operation and
collaboration of people and government in restoring normalcy.
Highlighting on the importance of the summit, President of AMA, Dr.
Jova C Marak made an appeal to urge outfits to come forward.
Youth leader Roger A Sangma said, “As Garos, we have to spread the
message of love and appeal for peace. Without peace, no development
can come in”.
Sensing fear that Garo hills may be declared as a ‘disturbed’ area, a
youth activist Pritam Marak said, “It is high time to make an appeal
to root out insurgency”. He also suggested that government should
create an atmosphere, where militants are given proper rehabilitation,
once they join the mainstream.
The Armed Force Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and its implication were
also discussed at length. They observed that if the prevailing
situation is not contained, the Act will be imposed in Garo hills,
which will turn around the situation.
Bappun Marak, an activist from Phulbari said, “It is a draconian Act,
its imposition will mean that even innocents will be killed on mere
suspicion. So, the right intervention will be to make an effort to
urge the outfits to come forward, so that the situation does not
become worse any further”.
Discussing the cause of insurgency, many viewed that youths were
misguided and lured to join insurgent movement. Some even opined that
militancy offers easy money.
Heneritha R Marak, a senior citizen, who was part of the summit said,
“It is everybody’s duty to ensure that the youths are not misguided”.
She is of the view that most of the youths have been lured to
insurgency.
“As mother, we expect good from our children, hence, it is our
responsibility to guide them”, said Marak adding, “Our youths should
be guided to lead for a good cause”.
Making a pitch for a non-violent movement, Former Health Minister
Mariam D Shira sought public cooperation in putting an end to ‘gun
culture’. She said, “Public should collaborate with the government and
their representatives to ensure that such outfits are not allowed to
flourish”.
She also made an appeal to all outfits to come forward and sign the
peace parley together. The mood of the people was for a lasting peace settlement.
The mushrooming of outfits like Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA),
United A’chik Liberation Army (UALA) and A’chik Tiger Force (ATF) has
posed a constant fear. Though the A’chik National Volunteers Council
(ANVC) and its breakaway faction have come together once again and are
negotiating the peace settlement. The public fear that unless and
until, all outfits come together, there will be no lasting peace in
Garo hills.
ANVC signed the tripartite ceasefire truce with Delhi and Meghalaya in
July 2004. The outfit along with its breakaway faction signed the agreed text for settlement on 5 January, 2013.
As breakaway faction of ANVC-B continued to unleash act of terror,
there were difficulties, which looked like the peace process will be
derailed. The encounter at Darengagal on January 11 last was another
major stumbling block. However, government managed to bring the ANVC-B on board to discuss the agreed text of settlement on 23 January last.(SP News)
