By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In view of the recent violence in Garo Hills, a conglomeration of Garo Hills based NGOs convened a meeting at Tura whereby they unanimously agreed to the idea that peace and normalcy had to be re-instated in the region at the earliest in the interest of all co-existing communities.
The pressure groups which included the FKJGP, GSU, AYWO and others on its recent meeting contemplated on various issues relating to the communal tension after the Tura incident last month.
The conglomerate organizations deliberated on the turn of events and all the possible aftermath of the events which may directly or indirectly affect the present scenario of the whole of Garo Hills and its neighboring districts of lower Assam.
However, during the course of the interaction, it was observed that the economic blockade staged by the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) has deeply affected the general mindset of the people of Garo Hills in a negative sense and that in itself is a very disturbing fact to be reckoned.
“The economic blockade as staged by the AAMSU has spun a negative attitude suggesting communal tension, and the general differences seem to be escalating between the customers from Garo Hills and the Traders from some parts of Lower Assam,” FKJGP president Garo Hills Zone Pritam R Marak said in a statement issued here on Wednesday.
The conglomerate body stressed on the need for further contemplation on the matter, prior to which no individual should impose their own terms in dealing with the situation unprofessionally, resorting to violence or any other means that is against the law of the land.
“It was also realized the fact the economic blockade staged by the AAMSU has left many citizens of Garo Hills questioning the need for depending on the people of lower Assam for sustaining the daily supply of the people of Garo Hills, many has openly opined that the people of Garo Hills can independently sustain their livelihood sources on their own,” Marak said.
The joint organizations have suggested the people from the neighboring state to refrain themselves from making any rash decisions and crossing over to the region.
“We also feel that the rash action of few individuals may at certain times jeopardize the whole effort initiated by all for peace,” the FKJGP leader said.
Further, the conglomerate body stated that they were not against the engagement of migrant labourers in different construction works.
“However, we are against unregulated migrant labourers and strongly feel that every migrant labourers should be properly regulated,” Marak said adding that the authorities and the NGO’s from both sides have agreed on the matter and hoped that no one turns back on their word, else serious misunderstandings may follow thereafter.