Codification of Garo Customary Laws
TURA: A group of NGOs from Williamnagar comprising of the GSU, AIGU, FAF, FKJGP, Mothers’ Federation, ICFS, WGCSU, AYF and ASCOT have not taken kindly the statements of the GHADC Secretary and CEM over the attempt to codify the Garo Customary Laws.
The NGOs claimed that certain disputable clauses or paragraphs had never been discussed with the Nokmas, Sorders, Laskers and citizens from Williamnagar as claimed by the secretary of the GHADC.
“If the GHADC or Milton S Sangma really wanted to discuss the issue with the citizens, the process of passing the Bill should not have been carried out in haste as it is still premature to go ahead with the issue at present,” the NGOs said.
“The practices cannot become a law and we cannot give away our future to non-Garos. Non-Garos cannot become ruler of the Garos simply by taking Garo titles or maharies. To be the ruler of Garos, one must be born from the Garos. The codification of Garo Customary Laws cannot be made merely based on histories or practices but the sole objective of laws must be only to safeguard the customs, properties, community and regions, etc., of the Garos. The codification of laws must be translated into Garo and the disputable clauses or paragraphs must be scrapped from the laws,” the NGOs jointly said in a statement.
Stating that they would never compromise with the future of the Garos, the NGOs said that they would mobilise their units in Garo Hills to find out with whom the GHADC had its meetings on the issue during the last five years.
“We strongly condemn the attempt to pass the disputable bill and will strongly oppose the premature codification of Garo Customary Laws. The future course of action will be discussed in the next combined meeting in Williamnagar,” the NGOs said.