Opp raises ANVC peace pact issue in House
SHILLONG: The Centre needs to be consulted before initiating peace talks with GNLA, Meghalaya Home Minister Roshan Warjri told the state assembly on Monday.
In reply to a call attention motion moved by Clifford Marak (GNC) regarding peace talks with GNLA, the Home Minister said that since GNLA was a banned organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967, it would be necessary to consult the Centre on the matter.
“The State Government will, therefore, need to work out the modalities together with the Central Government in order to facilitate the interaction between the Government and GNLA”, Warjri said.
According to the Home Minister, the Government was serious and all aspects of the peace process were being pursued in consultation with the Centre.
“Keeping in mind the various legal aspects, the Government reiterates its seriousness to take forward the peace process through dialogues”, she said.
After the State Government considered asking militant outfits to come forward for talks, the Governor made an open offer to all the militant outfits to shun the path of violence and to engage in a dialogue with the Government, she said.
The Home Minister said that in response to this, the GNLA had made some statements suggesting that it was prepared to have talks with the Governor.
“It is now necessary to carry this process forward. The offer made in the address of the Governor was on behalf of the State Government for the negotiations with all other militant outfits also”, Warjri said.
Appeal to all
She also appealed to all the militant outfits that in “the interest and welfare of our people, they should come forward with an open mind and accept the offer of talks with the Government as the Constitution affords ample scope for addressing all grievances and aspiration through dialogue and peaceful means”.
According to the Home Minister, GNLA had been indulging in unlawful activities, which, among other things, posed a serious threat to the internal security and integrity of the State and the nation. She said concerted efforts were being made jointly by the state police and the central armed police forces to neutralize the outfit and considerable success was also achieved with the arrest of cadres, seizure of arms and ammunitions and busting of camps.
However, inspire of the best efforts on the part of security forces, it had not been possible to stop its activities completely, and GNLA continued to take advantage of the geographical and climatic conditions of the area, it operated from, she said.
The Home Minister said that GNLA continued to indulge in unlawful activities causing obstruction to developmental projects and programmes, resulting in hardship to the local population in areas it operates, and also “poses a serious threat to the internal security and integrity of our state and the nation as a whole”.
She asserted that the use of force alone might not be the only solution as there were considerable costs involved as far as insurgency was concerned to the economy as well as to the society at large in terms of disruption of normal life, delays in the implementation of developmental programmes, adverse impact on trade and commerce, setback to the growth process and damage to the whole social fabric.
In this context, it was felt necessary that the Government should explore other options of finding a more enduring and lasting solution to the problem of insurgency. “It was also felt hat since the final settlement with ANVC is at an advanced stage, it would be an opportune moment to explore the possibility of bringing all other militant groups also on board”, she added.
ANVC peace pact: Earlier in the day, UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh has questioned the fate of the peace agreement with the ANVC which the Government had initiated to bring lasting peace in Garo Hills. “I would like to know what would happen to this peace agreement, now that there are indications that the UPA might not return back to power at the Centre,” Lyngdoh said while participating on the discussion on the Governor’s address during the Budget session of the Meghalaya assembly.
He said that the Government proposed to strengthen the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) by increasing the number of seats from 30 to 40 and also to transfer certain subjects to the ADCs to further empower it. “But all these proposals will require an amendment to the Constitution,” Lyngdoh said.
Pointing out that with the GNLA also expressing its willingness to have a dialogue, this meant that the State Government might to have to enter into another peace agreement with the GNLA. ‘It would be interesting to see the final fate of these agreements,” Lyngdoh said.
He expressed concern over the joining of a KSU leader along with 13 others to the HNLC.
“The Government needs to do a lot of reasons and analysis over the joining of this student leader. This kind of development may lend fresh oxygen to the militant outfit,” the UDP legislator said while also pointing out that the Government would have to do some self-introspection in handling NGOs and the youth in general.
He said that the common people would not want themselves under the clout of militant activities again.
“We would not want to deal with a Manipur like situation in the State,” Lyngdoh said