Friday, March 29, 2024
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GNLA crossing the Lakshman-Rekha

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By HH Mohrmen

The kidnapping of the two Khasi-Pnar MeECL engineers Apos Pohtmi and Boney Majaw by the suspected GNLA militants is a crucial incident in the history of militancy in Garo hills. The incident is like the militant group crossing the formidable barrier, the Lakshman-Rekha as it were, that it has not crossed since the extremist group was formed. Surely, the abduction of the two engineers did not happen by accident, but was carefully pre-planned and is part of the long term strategy of the outfit. The kidnapping can also be a turning point in the GNLA’s fight for a separate Garo Hills state.

The timing of the kidnapping on the eve of the Republic day was a well considered move, taking into account the celebration and the fact that even newspapers were on holiday, hence no paper was in circulation the very next day. The GNLA had calculated that NGOs and pressure groups would not have any opportunity to make any demand for the duo’s release. But to my mind the main purpose of the kidnapping operation was to create a division between the main tribes of the State- the Khasi-Pnar and the Garos. The Khasi-Pnar and the Garos have been living in harmony since the state was created and until today there has not been any occasion which has threatened the peaceful coexistence of the tribes. The GNLA knows that for the group to achieve its goal of a Garoland state, it cannot afford to let Meghalaya continue as it is. The separate Garoland state will not happen if the Khasi Pnar and Garo people live in peace. Therefore the GNLA has to create an artificial rift between the two communities, to drive a wedge and produce chaos where none existed. Hence the kidnapping drama and the fond hope that the incident would result in a communal flare-up! Therefore NGOs and pressure groups should not fall into the GNLA trap.

GNLA an extremist group which thrives on creating false notions of separatism and divisive tactics to achieve its goals is no different from any other terrorist group. GNLA’s strategy is to make its presence felt in the area where it operates by terrorizing people. A weak and ineffective government only helps the group to gain control over the poor people of the area. Since its inception the group has carefully crafted every move and every step that it has taken. Initially, the plan was to fill the group’s coffer and surely by now the group’s war chest is filled to the brim. How is it possible for the State’s intelligence agencies to miss every move the outfit makes? Why did the government fail to scuttle the plan? Now the group is ready for a show down and the kidnapping of the two engineers is the sounding of the battle cry.

Is the government serious in tackling this menace? The three obvious reasons which prove that the government has failed in its approach to tackle the GNLA threat is (1) the government’s lack of understanding of the ground reality (2) the government’s indecision on how to tackle the GNLA (3) the State government’s lack of courage to deal with the problem. Dr. RC Laloo referring to the law and order situation in the state in his Republic day address in Jowai said the overall situation in the state is peaceful except for a minor law and order problem in Garo hills. Now if a senior cabinet minister is calling the situation in Garo hills a minor problem then obviously the Government is not aware of the ground situation, or the government refuses to accept that the GNLA is a major threat to the peace of Meghalaya. Dr Laloo would not have termed the present state of affairs in the state of Meghalaya as peaceful if he had read the news before taking the stand because it was reported in the newspaper that on the eve of Republic day two Khasi Pnar engineers were kidnapped at a gun point by suspected militants.

The government, including the opposition is indecisive on how to tackle the GNLA. One wonders if the State government has even sent its recommendation to the central government to treat the GNLA as a banned outfit. Not that the Centre relies on the State government’s recommendation for banning any anti-national organization, but it no doubt points towards the State government’s attitude and strategy on how to deal with the group. It is evident that the State government’s approach in dealing with the group is by using velvet gloves. The reason is because the general election to the state Assembly is only a year from now and the GNLA controls certain areas of the District and the organization can influence the result of the next election in the Garo hills. It is not surprising therefore that both the government led by the Congress and the opposition led by the NCP prefer to treat the GNLA with utmost caution.

This approach of the Government in dealing with the GNLA is a farce; it has only strengthened the group day by day and encouraged more young people to join the outfit. If the Government is to end this menace once and for all, it needs to call a spade a spade and take the bull by its horns. It needs to decide once and for all on whose side it is. Is the government on the side of the violence and the perpetrator of crime or against it? If the Government is against violence and crime then it needs to take a bold step to curb the militant elements in the Garo hills and the sooner the decision is made the better it is for the state of Meghalaya. The Government should treat the GNLA with a iron fist and rid the Garo hills of militancy. The previous Government and the Home Minister of the day were able to deal a severe blow to the HNLC because the Minister was clear in his outlook that there is no place for violence in the society and the government too was in support of the approach.

Why were the two engineers abducted? Is it because they did not pay taxes to the GNLA? Does the rule of law prevail when armed outfits can tax people at will and if they do not comply then kidnapping is the consequence? Government cannot afford to fail its people anymore. How many more government officials will the GNLA kidnap? Do the Police or the Government care if money changes hand whenever government officials are released from their captivity, be it a transport officer, a business man or an officer in the District administration? Certainly even kids in the street know that whenever militant groups kidnap anybody, the reason is ransom and surely the police too are not ignorant of the fact.

If the Government is not able to protect its own officials then how can one expect it to protect the common people? The situation could also trigger a major problem for the Government if it’s officials refuse to attend to their duties in Garo hills fearing for their dear lives. The Government must put a stop to the militancy problem in the Garo hills District if Meghalaya is to remain peaceful. The problem should be dealt with a firm hand if political leaders from Garo hills themselves are not sympathetic with the cause of a Garoland that the militants have advocated.

(The writer is a research scholar and an environment activist)

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