TURA: The civil society in Tura has now stood up against the deteriorating law and order situation in the Garo Hills.
A number of NGOs, including church organizations and leaders, under the aegis of the Unified Peace Movement for Garo Hills (UPMGH) organized in Tura on Sunday a “Mass Prayer and Peace Rally,” aimed at bringing back peace in the area as well as appealing to those who had joined militant groups to return to the mainstream. The rally, held at the Chandmary Playground in the town, was attended by over 2,000 people.
Addressing the rally, UPMGH chairperson Miriam D Shira said that the situation in Garo Hills had deteriorated sharply and incidents of extortion, dacoities and killings were occurring on a regular basis. She said that it would not be possible to contain the situation and bring pack peace to the Garo Hills unless the youths who had strayed were brought back to the mainstream.
She said that it was mostly contractors, businessmen and travellers who were being targetted and that these people were now in constant fear for their lives due to the money being frequently demanded by various groups. Speaking on the role needed to be played by the Government she said that the youths should be welcomed back to the mainstream with open arms, rehabilitated and provided with decent means of living.
Rev Fr Januarius S Sangma in his brief address urged the people to keep in mind that Garo Hills was still not the worst possible kind of place to be in at the moment. He said the people of Garo Hills presently needed all the help they could get and urged the people to be brave and not lose heart. He said that the people needed to have faith.
The rally which began from Chandmary Playground passed through Ringrey, District Auditorium, MCH Hospital, Members’ Hostel, AOC Petrol Pump and returned to the starting venue.
One of the newly formed militant outfits came out with a statement during the day which provided a peep into the grievances of the undergrounds. Self-styled commander-in-chief of Matchadu Matchabet, Mat Me’mang, said that even though they wielded arms they were not enemies of the Garo people. NGOs like Garo Students Union and church leaders were not doing anything to help them while they languished in their temporary ANVC(B) camp at Edenbari, allegedly without food and water.
Rejecting the appeal of GHSMC general secretary Augustine Marak to all militant groups in Garo Hills to give up the arms struggle and demand for a separate Garoland State in a democratic way, he cited the experience of ANVC (B) which, he said, had once come overground with an intention for a peace settlement but had to suffer hardships at their temporary camp at Edenbari, Mat Me’mang made it clear that Matchadu Matchabet had no intention of coming in for peace talks at the moment
“See what happened to four of our – then ANVC (B) – cadres at Daren Agal. They were shot dead in cold blood by the police and SOT. Did the GHSMC or any other NGO come to our defence then? What will they do if the same thing happens again” he asked.