OUR CORRESPONDENT
People take out a peace rally in Tura, West Garo Hills, on Saturday. Telegraph picture
Shillong, Oct 3 : The United Christian Peace Forum yesterday appealed to the A’chik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) and the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) to refrain from violence while asking the Meghalaya government to initiate a dialogue with militant groups.
The forum, a conglomerate of various churches operating in Garo hills, also organised simultaneous peace rallies in West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills districts yesterday to appeal for restoration of peace and harmony in the region.
In a memorandum to chief minister Mukul Sangma, the forum highlighted the problems faced by the people as a result of “militancy” that has again surfaced in Garo hills after having been on the wane a few years ago.
“We have been watching the recent developments in different parts of Garo hills and we feel we cannot just simply sit and watch. You may have read the press releases that have come out in the media regarding the efforts that are being taken by the Forum to help the government mediate with the so-called militant groups,” Rev. Greater Burn R. Marak and Rev. Manhseng A. Momin said in the memorandum.
They said the recent bandh experienced by the people of Garo hills had been the worst in the history of the region and had affected the lives of all citizens, particularly the rural poor who earn their daily bread by selling perishable products.
“During such frequent bandhs, many of the daily bread earners and their families are deprived of their right to livelihood. The imminent price rise because of the disturbance in movement of essential commodities is also a great concern to the people. Garo hills is lagging behind in many areas such as infrastructure and if such bandhs are frequently called, the future of the region will be bleak,” the forum said.
The forum appealed to the ANVC and the GNLA to refrain from violence and also from issuing press statements which, apart from arousing unhealthy emotions, creates an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among the people in Garo hills.
In the recent past, a series of war of words between the ANVC, currently under ceasefire, and the GNLA, a nascent militant outfit, broke out.
“The Forum is trying its best to keep Garo hills intact and we humbly appeal to the government to look for effective, alternative and sincere measures to bring back peace and normality,” the Forum said.
On the current combing operations in the region, it said: “Their operations should be carried out with due concern to the needs of the common people and the local communities and should in no way violate human rights especially the dignity of women and innocent youths.”
“We appeal to you to create an atmosphere for talks so that the so-called militant groups can come forward to the negotiating table to sort out the different issues pertaining to their so-called cause,” the Forum added.
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