GNLA welcomes talks offer, seeks interlocutor
TURA: Hundreds of people from Ampati constituency came out to defy the ongoing indefinite bandh call given by the proscribed GNLA and appealed to the outfit to withdraw their forced closure on Wednesday afternoon.
Since Monday the GNLA had enforced an indefinite bandh of Ampati to protest the recent killing of a Nokma’s son by police in West Garo Hills and the mass murder of five people from two families in Rongram area.
The public of Ampati, with support from church elders, NGOs and government officials, came together at Ampati mini stadium from where they went in a silent procession up to the police station and returned as a mark of protest against the forced shutdown.
During the meeting, the public took a resolution not to allow the bandh to continue and to ensure shops open, schools function and daily wagers begin work from Thursday.
“We request the GNLA to call off their indefinite bandh of Ampati constituency. We are also from the same heritage and same Garo blood. Please consider us,” was one of the main resolutions passed by the public.
The public also appealed to the militants to stop the killing of innocent people and urged upon the rest of Garo Hills to extend their support and solidarity to the affected in this crucial hour.
A condolence meeting was also held at the rally for the victims of the GNLA ambush in Panda reserve of south Garo Hills in which four policemen were killed and another seriously injured.
Talks Offer: Meanwhile: a day after the proscribed GNLA outfit laid a fatal ambush causing the death of four policemen in Panda region of south Garo Hills, it has cautiously welcomed the peace talks initiative made by Meghalaya Governor K N Tripathi at the beginning of the Meghalaya budget session, this week.
“We welcome the initiative made by the honourable Governor for peace talks but what guarantee is there with the Mukul Sangma led government?” questioned GNLA in a press statement in Garo released to the media on Wednesday through its joint publicity secretary Garo Mandei Ch Marak.
“This is not the first time we have been given the offer of peace talks. Previously also we were given that offer but nothing materialized. Is it not possible that we could meet a similar fate like other outfits that were given a similar offer? We cannot betray the cause we took up and the aspirations of the Garo people,” claimed the GNLA.
Hence, doubting the sincerity of the Sangma led government, GNLA offered to take up peace talks only if the Meghalaya Government appointed an interlocutor.
The outfit also added that they would be represented by their Chairman and general secretary in case the talks commenced. However, it remains to be seen who has been appointed as the new chairman of the group given that its former leader and dismissed deputy SP of Meghalaya police, Champion R Sangma, had quit the outfit and the armed struggle while currently cooling his heels in Shillong jail.