TURA: The alarming escalation of violence in Garo Hills region along with harassment of innocent locals on the pretext of suspicion by security personnel has made the NGOs, citizens and civil societies voice in unison for a permanent solution to come into force to mitigate the situation.
A meeting comprising of citizens from all the districts of Garo Hills and NGOs of the region including GSU, FKJGP, AYWO, AAYF, AIGU and the GHSMC was held on Saturday to form the ‘Unified Peace Movement for Garo Hills’ to fight for peace within the region.
The body will take up the clarion call for peace with people, government and the anti-establishment outfits. The interim body is to be headed by former Meghalaya Health Minister Mariam D Shira and Heneritha R Marak, a former government official.
During the meeting, various NGOs, citizens and the youth voiced their concern and emphasized the need to seek peace and harmony in the region.
“As Garos, we have to spread the message of love and appeal for peace. Without peace, no development can come in. Militants have been using our villagers at gun point when they need them and the police then come and pick the villagers for questioning even though they have nothing to do with it. They then turn to militancy as their lives are messed up,” said Rogerbenny A Sangma.
FKJGP president Pritam Marak warned that AFSPA was going to be a reality if things kept going out of hand. “It is high time to make an appeal to root out insurgency or we will have to face the excesses of AFSPA. Things cannot go on like this as the killing of innocents will mean that the Central Government would be forced to use power. We need a permanent solution,” he said.
The Armed Force Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and its implication were also discussed at length during the meeting. They observed that if the prevailing situation is not contained, the Act will be imposed in Garo Hills, which will in turn, worsen the situation.
“The imposition of the draconian Act will mean that even innocents will be killed on mere suspicion. Therefore the right intervention will be to make an effort to urge the outfits to come forward, so that the situation does not get worse,” observed Bappun Marak, an activist from Phulbari.
Discussing the cause of insurgency, many opined that youth were misguided and lured to join the insurgents. Some even stated that militancy offers easy money and militancy has become a cottage industry in Garo Hills.
Heneritha R Marak, a senior citizen, who was part of the summit said, “It is everyone’s duty to ensure that the youths are not misguided”. Her view was that most of the youths have been lured to insurgency. “As a 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 and they should be brought back and the mothers of Garo society cannot sit silent like this”.
The meeting was attended by NGOs from Baghmara, Tikrikilla, Phulbari, Ampati, Tura, Selsella and other regions of Garo Hills.
