By Albert Thyrniang
By all accounts the headlines in 2014 (and earlier) as far as Garo Hills is concerned were realted to militant violence. Reports and write-ups regarding escalation of violence are documented. To understand the situation better, this article looks at the profile of peace groups that emerged in the region in the last few years. These movements came into existence periodically in response to the deteriorating law and order situation and to pressurise militant outfits, criminal groups and gangs to give up the cult of violence and return to the mainstream. Whether they were successful or not remains to be seen but all of them are presently in oblivion.
The first movement to call for peace in the violence ravaged hills was the United Christians Peace Forum (UCPF). The movement consisted of various Christian dominations supported by non-Christian religious groups. The movement was a pan-Garo one and spread its wings all over the region. With its headquarters in Tura, the movement had units in all district headquarters, blocks and even religious centres. There was enthusiasm as people looked up to it to help to ease their lot as they faced constant threats and harassment from gun toting groups – big and small.
The movement started in 2012 when the GNLA began to create a reign of terror, executing its philosophy of extortion, kidnapping, killings, atrocities and brutalities. UCPF organised massive peace rallies to voice its concern at the violence perpetrated by multiple rebel outfits. Leaders of various churches, coordinated by district administration officials, were seen joining hands to pray for peace. The most memorable assembly was on May 6, 2012 when under its aegis thousands gathered in Chandmari ground to defy the 300 hour shut down called by the police deserter turned rebel, Champion R Sangma’s GNLA. The proscribed organisation had to call off the bandh after seeing the unprecedented size and undaunted defiance of the UCPF mobilised crowd. UCPF also led protest rallies against the attempted abduction of a nun based in Mendipathar.
For known and unknown reasons, the forum seems to have become extinct sometime in April/May 2014. Some may consider it mysterious but it was not totally unexpected. I attended a couple off UCPF meetings. I was awestruck at how speakers liberally quoted the scriptures on the importance of peace. Equally captivating is the fluency of prayers said by various church leaders. There were no analysis of the reasons why the youths picked up the gun so easily. There were neither solutions nor remedies offered. There were also no condemnations even of the heinous crimes committed by militants or gangs as the case may be. In a word UCPF was a movement of prayers with little action. So the forum died an untimely death. Remember, “God helps those who help themselves”.
Next came “Shalom Meghalaya” to fill in the vacuum left by UCPF. It began with a bang on 17th August 2014 when around fifteen thousand gathered in MP stadium, Tura to commence its peace movement. In the process ‘Shalom Meghalaya’ organised eye catching events like the chain motor rally, candle lit processions, prayer chains, public meetings, signature campaigns and honouring peace in schools. Though derailed by the unprecedented flood of 22nd September, 2014, initially the motor rally was a hit. Setting off from Tura (West Garo Hills), hundreds of enthusiastic motorists, wearing Shalom Meghalaya T-shirts and caps, took turns to pass through South Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, North Garo Hills and back to West Garo Hills spreading the message of peace in all five districts.
‘Shalom Meghalaya’ also printed a leaflet in the local language. In it the movement points out the causes, the remedies, the adverse effects and the beneficiaries of militancy. At the start it condemned the violent activities of militants and anti-social elements but later it called for them to return to the mainstream.
The peace movement promised much but it also declined rapidly. While UCPF was dominated by a particular church, leaders of another denomination were seen to be at the forefront of ‘Shalom Meghalaya’. Leaders of other churches were sometimes not even greeted in rallies. There are also talks that the ‘organisation’ received ‘huge’ funds from the government thus weakening its voice. The movement became political. In its culmination day on 15th December, 2014 when it was clear that only politicians from the ruling party were to be on the dais a lot of people backed out. No wonder a crowd of only two thousand (or even less) assembled to celebrate the “Pre-Christmas Peace Festival”. Shrewdly the one lakh signatures (against violence) were presented to the Chief Minister, not to the President of India, as earlier promised, to avoid embarrassment to the government. The end of ‘Shalom Meghalaya’ might have been on the fateful day of 15th December last.
In the meantime Unified Peace Movement for Garo Hills (UPMGH) came into existence on 25th January last year. The stated objectives of the conglomeration of NGOs like the GSU, FKJGP, AYWO, AAYF, AIGU, GHSMC and AMA, was to restore peace in Garo Hills permanently. The combined group organised its first rally on March 9. Amidst escalation of violence UPMGH sang the tune of dialogue while giving a clarion call to the misled youths to return to the mainstream. One of the leaders promised that they would convince their children to return to the societal fold within three months. Impressed at the call for the government to initiate peace talks with rebel groups, the GNLA urged the governor to appoint leaders of UPMGH as interlocutors. One is unsure of its present status but UPMGH is unheard for quite a while now.
So why are these forums for peace so short-lived? Why is there no perseverance in pursuing peace? Or has peace been achieved in Garo Hills? While the twin ANVC has been disbanded (?) there are a dozen other groups with guns to carry on their violent agenda. Just on November 17, 2014 two policemen were killed in an ambush by GNLA. Prior to Christmas extortions and abductions were reported in the media. So clearly, peace has not been accomplished. Militancy is still a bane in Garo Hills. UCPF, Shalom Meghalaya and probably UPMGH have disappeared without realising their objectives. Will another civil and church peace group emerge? What nomenclature will that association carry?
The story of 2014 in Garo Hills was definitely violence and militancy. Accompanying this narrative was the failed efforts of peace groups and movements to reinstate peace in the trouble torn five districts. Will the narrative be the same in 2015? Will the energy be spent in chronologizing extortion, abductions, cold blooded murders, brutal massacres, cruel carnages and merciless ambushes? Will we continue to witness inhuman and heinous crimes, atrocities and mayhem? Will children’s crackers be replaced by bombs and guns once the Christmas and New Year festive mood is over? Will the beating of drums amidst chanting of ‘Song Christan’ be substituted by the sound of sophisticated machine guns in the coming year? 2015 will give the answer!
