The demand by both factions of the ANVC to run the affairs of the Garo Hills District Council for the interregnum period (between now and the holding of the next elections to the Council which now appears to be in the realm of conjecture), is astounding to say the least. The former militants have not even had adequate cooling off period between their violent exploits and their entry into “civil” society. They are used to taking arbitrary decisions based solely on the power of the gun. Now they have to learn the art of democratic engagement where decisions are taken after due consultations with all those who enter the Council after being duly elected by the people. The demand of the ANVCs is ridiculous and reeks of an insatiable appetite for power and pelf. From the statements made by leaders of the ANVCs it appears as if the militants believe they have done a huge favour to the Government and the people of Garo Hills by leaving behind their militant activities. While no one can deny the ANVC cadres their right to enter politics, the fact remains that they have to contest elections like every other candidate. That would prove whether people actually repose their trust on these former militants.
Also it merits some analysis as to whether former militants who have committed crimes galore can be let off the hook so easily and be rewarded with a political office. This is a bad model of peace building if there is one, because many disenchanted youth could take the same path and later surrender and jump straight into politics. That would make the state legislature and the district councils a place where militants come home to roost. The Chief Minister of Meghalaya is certainly not a visionary because visionaries don’t have short term goals. Buying peace at great cost is bad enough. Now paving the way for unreformed militants to step into the law making domain is catastrophic. But public silence on this issue is only encouraging politicians to play around with our hard earned democratic ethos.
