UALA wants to join peace process
TURA: The United A’chik Liberation Army (UALA) headed by dreaded militant Norrok X Momin has through its chairman announced willingness to join peace talks with the government but maintained that discussions would have to centre on the issue of Garoland state.
The UALA also stated that another member outfit called A’chik Revolutionary Front, previously unknown to authorities as being active, was joining the peace talks.
“We have jointly decided to hold talks with the government for final solution in order to restore everlasting peace and development of Garo Hills and for the larger interest of the people,” announced UALA chairman Chiindik Marak.
He said that the announcement was being jointly endorsed by ARF chairman Maran Marak, whose organisation was also joining hands with UALA for peace negotiations.
The announcement for peace talks is believed to have the endorsement of its dreaded military chief Singbirth Marak alias Norrok Momin who is one of the most wanted fugitives of Meghalaya police for various crimes including the cold blooded killings of Rabha civilians during Diwali celebrations last year in Goalpara district of Assam and the murder of an assistant jailer and warden during their attack on Williamnagar district jail over a year ago.
Terming ideological differences among leaders and cadres for defections and the mushrooming of more outfits, the UALA chairman has called upon all militant outfits to come together and raise one voice for the cause of Garoland.
“Separate Garoland state is absolutely in our constitutional rights under Article 371. We will commit our best efforts to restore peace and look forward to changes, development, cooperation and harmony,” stated Chiindik Marak.
The joint statement of UALA and ARF also released the names of its other leaders to push through its offer of peace talks.
Besides Chiindik Marak the chairman of UALA the names of other members are Singbirth Marak alias Norrok X Momin as C-in-C, Walsare Marak as Deputy C-in-C, Jagring Marak alias Nagra as Secretary General, Arong Sangma as Secretary Finance, Challang Wedoesa Sangma as Secretary Information and Public Relation, Rakgrim Marak as Chief Organizer and Aram Marak as Chief Adviser. The UALA also claimed to have 32 other senior members and 83 cadres.
The ARF list of names released were that of Mangrak alias Maran Marak as Chairman, Grongdik as Major General, Danil as Deputy C in C, Captain Millam as General Secretary, Captain Dimik as Joint Secretary, Lieutenant Chugrim as Secretary Information and Public Relation, Lieutenant Chanchi as Secretary Foreign Department and Nitorak as Chief Adviser.