By Albert Thyrniang
The Chief Minister-militant nexus controversy is on. The bombshell was first dropped by the now slain ANVC-B Political Secretary, Ajaju R Marak who revealed that the CM had close relationship with the militant organization’s Chairman, Rimpu N Marak. Intriguingly the person who exposed the nexus was gunned down by the police the very next day along with three others. Next came the ANVC-B ‘Commander-in-Chief’, who further disclosed that the nexus is between the CM the parent organization, ANVC’s Chairman, Dilash Marak.
Dr. Mukul Sangma vehemently denied all links with militants. Political bigwigs in the state including Congress Chief, DD Lapang, have also given the CM a clean chit. The CM informed that he was one of the few politicians in that the State that has no association with rebels. He even fired ‘defamation salvo’ at the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Nationalist Peoples’ Party (NPP) if they continued to pursue the matter with Delhi’s highest offices. He turned the tide on his political adversary, PA Sangma, by accusing him of not condemning militant violence and not explicitly supporting the governments’ actions against militant outfits, thus putting the NPP Chief and former Lok Sabha Speaker on the back foot.
When the CM says that he is only among few who have no connection with militants, by inference the conclusion is: there are many politicians who have links with unlawful outfits. Of particular importance is Dr. Sangma’s assertion that as Head of the Government he is fully aware as to who has links with militants. Then, why is he keeping quiet? Why is he not revealing the names? Since, he has neither said not done anything in this regard, is it right to presume that, according to him, there is nothing wrong in having links with militants? Is his silence good for the State? Is this not dangerous?
The UDP and NPP seem to be unfazed and undeterred by the CM’s threat of dragging them to court and seem determined to force him to step down and for a CBI/NIA inquiry to be instituted to unearth the unholy alliance. They have renewed their efforts to make the President, the Prime Minister, the Union Minister and the Leaders of both Houses of Parliament heard. They have reiterated their demand for the CM’s resignation to facilitate an impartial and independent probe. Will they keep the issue alive? Will they have the conviction and credibility to bring the matter to its logical conclusion? Or will they let the controversy fade from public memory because beyond a point it could affect them as well. Politician-militant nexus might be universal.
The Chief Minster himself is ‘keen’ to see peace returning to Garo Hills. Like all the rest, he ‘desires’ militancy to end. But militancy will not end unless politician-militant nexus ends. That is clear on every one’s mind. The Chief Minster himself admits that there is nexus between politicians and militants. Then, why not institute a fair investigation? Knowing of a nexus and keeping silence, even refusing to order an inquiry amounts to contributing to the growth of militancy. For the good of the state, why not the CM submit himself to an inquiry?
The Chief Minister has also demanded proof not mere allegations. Well, when a top leader of a militant outfit alleges that his Chairman met the Chief Minister more than once to offer him support; when the Chairman ordered his ‘Commander-in-Chief’ to call up deserted MLAs to return to CM; when the ‘Commander-in-Chief’ confirms the phone calls; are they not enough grounds for an inquiry?
The 11th January Daren Apal camp encounter is under serious suspicion. It is a mystery. The camp was raided the very next day after Ajaju R Marak made the CM-militant nexus allegation. Ajaju had to flee and took shelter in the raided camp? He was subsequently killed in the encounter. Were the police aware of the presence of the camp at Daren Apal village post allegation? Was the camp raided with the sole intention of eliminating Ajaju and his supporters? Who gave information that Ajaju was present in the camp? Was he eliminated to prevent more beans being spilled? Why his and other mortal remains were never identified before giving anonymous burials? The ordered magisterial inquiry does not mean questions will be answered.
We are informed that there are 25 odd militant splinter groups operating in Garo Hills. These groups operate freely in interior and not so interior villages. Without challenge they extort lakhs/crores from coal owners, merchants and trucks. Recently the Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills was a firsthand witness to the rampant extortion. The coal belts are their kingdoms.
Shillong Times’ Editorial, “The politician-business nexus” (21.1.2014) reminds us that the weigh bridges are owned by politician-businessmen who certify overloaded trucks as carrying the prescribed weight. The fee of the excess weight is clandestinely paid to the weight bridges’ owners. It goes into their pockets. Well, part of it also goes to the militants! Here we have politician-business-militant nexus.
On 28th of this month there was a news item in this newspaper that the Meghalaya Government is going fast track the creation of a ‘Special Multi-Task Force’ or ‘Special Force 10’ to combat insurgency in the state besides maintaining law and order. While appreciating the initiative, one is certain that unless nexus between politicians and militants ends, the force will be unsuccessful in banishing militancy. Militancy thrives because of politician-militant nexus. Privately, police and civil officials are quite candid.
In November last year, after the brutal ambush killing of five policemen, the government had promised to neutralize the GNLA in three months. Those three months are over but the GNLA is as strong as ever. The dreaded outfit is, perhaps, even stronger. In Shallang, the highly sophisticated weapon yielding cadres openly challenged the police for an open combat. Outnumbered and ‘out-weaponed’ the police had to buy time to save their own lives.
The Special Weapons and Tactics Teams (SWAT) of the State Police assisted by the Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed to tackle insurgents for quite a while now. The teams have won (and lost) some battles but the war is far from being won. The ‘Special Force 10’ may give a boost but the politician-militant nexus has to end to bring militancy to a complete halt.