Tura, March, 15: The Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) today released a video describing their demand for Garoland, carved out of Meghalaya as ‘justified’.
Terming that creation of Garoland can be achieved through political measure, Sohan said, “Garoland is our birth right, we are born with this right and we will die with this right”. He justified the demand for creation of separate Garoland state as “very much constitutional”.
“Garoland shall be carved out of existing state of Meghalaya, we don’t demand more or less but from the existing boundary”, he said.
Vowing to continue their struggle for Garoland, Sohan said, “We acknowledge the contribution of our cadres, who have been killed, arrested, tortured and kept behind the bars. They left their home and their precious life for Garoland. We will struggle till we achieve Garoland”.
Asking the government to take the call for peace talks, Shira said, “At this juncture, we highly appreciate the invitation of governor K K Paul. In return, we demand immediate release of our jailed chairman, Champion Sangma”.
On the demand of GNLA for peace talks, government has maintained to examine the situation.
Sohan’s video message was sent to this correspondent by GNLA’s top cadre, Savio Marak.
Savio had said, “We want the government to understand that we genuinely want to hold dialogue, our intentions are clear, we stand for peace”.
In the video message, Sohan said, he want India’s attention to their demand saying “mera bharat mahan” and “Jai Hind”.
On Monday, Meghalaya home minister, Roshan Warjri had said that it is the duty of the state government to have a discussion with the central government to work out the modalities for a dialogue with GNLA.
Pointing that GNLA was a terrorist organisation under the unlawful activities (prevention) Act, 1967, Warjri said, “It was necessary for the state government to consult centre on the matter”.
The home minister even described GNLA’s activities as a hindrance for initiating development and welfare programmes in Garo hills.
“Violence begets more violence and the state has already borne a heavy cost on account of unwarranted violence,” she added.
On January 6 last, Meghalaya chief minister, Mukul Sangma had urged all outfits in Garo hills to come forward for peace talks under the ambit of A’chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC).
ANVC is on a ceasefire truce with New Delhi and Centre. The outfit has signed an “agreed text for settlement” on January 5, 2013 and is discussing on according more autonomy to the existing Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
The breakaway faction of ANVC led by Rimpu Marak has also signed the peace agreement.(Sp News)
