Garo Customary Laws Bill: MLA questions CEM’s role
SHILLONG/Tura: Rebel outfit GNLA has joined the chorus of voices opposed to Codification of Garo Customary Laws Bill and put the blame for the controversy surrounding the Bill squarely at the doorsteps of Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
“GNLA and the people of Garo Hills clearly know that Mukul has a big hand in this policy with his pet MDCs as instruments for the Bill to pass,” alleged GNLA political secretary Bikdot Nikjang Marak in a press statement.
“With the tribal status of our Chief Minister, and his brother Zenith in question, this Bill will emerge as the trump card for their escape,” claimed the GNLA leader and added that without the consent of the entire Garo society MDCs of Garo Hills cannot pass the Bill since it required rigorous research, discussions, adjudications and mass approval by the people.
The outfit has opposed the Codification of Garo Customary Laws Bill in its current form and warned Garo MDCs that it would not hesitate to take ‘action’ against those who support bills ‘detrimental’ to Garo society.
Giving a direct threat to the Congress MDCs for attempting to table the contentious Bill, the GNLA political secretary issued a stern warning to the elected members, including its Chief Executive Member (CEM) Alphonse A Sangma, that such a move would not be tolerated.
“Some of the Congress led MDCs are trying to modify or change the centuries old traditional law and pave the way to legally admit Non-Tribals as Garos into our society. An attempt or support to the bill on behalf of our elected political members will not be tolerated by the GNLA. We will be forced to act beyond imaginations whatever the consequences ought to be,” warned the outfit.
Laying stress on the matriarchal system followed by the Garos, the GNLA leader stated that customary laws play a vital role and has efficiently served the people for centuries and as such any change or alteration should not arise.
The armed insurgent outfit has raised a barrage of questions on the controversial issue.
“How can any person, born of either a non-Garo mother or a non-Garo father become a Garo by mere official recognition or just because they are accepted by some Maharis, also known as Dera Gata, or by just following the Garo practises? Similarly, how can a non-Garo person who marries a Garo woman be recognised as a Garo just because he agrees to follow the Garo culture, system, customs and traditions? Questioned Bikdot Nikjang Marak of the GNLA.
Pointing to the issue of adoption into a particular clan, the political secretary of GNLA said, ” The practices of adoption to any particular mahari is limited to the Garos only. Non-tribals entering the fray was far from reality or rather impossible.”
He claimed that the bill to manipulate the centuries old ‘customary law’ would send a dubious message about the authenticity of the Garo culture, traditions and systems.
MLA questions CEM : Meanwhile, Independent MLA from Gambegre and former executive member of the GHADC, Saleng A Sangma, has decried the move by the present Congress executive committee to try and introduce the Garo Customary Laws Bill of 2009 in the current session.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, the MLA said that this Bill had previously been opposed over the inclusion of the controversial clauses relating to the according of tribal status, which in turn would privilege others who may not be of indigenous origin.
Taking a swipe at the present GHADC executive committee for the attempt to introduce the bill he said, “the present EC is acting at the behest of someone else otherwise why the move at this juncture?”