SHILLONG: NGOs in Garo Hills have called upon the people to exercise the ‘right to not vote’ protesting against the non-tribals contesting the polls in the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections slated to be held on October 12.
In a statement to the press, the conglomerate of NGOs mentioned, “the GHADC should exclusively be relevant only to the indigenous tribals of Garo Hills; the protection of their culture, customs and tradition. However, till date, neither any political party, nor any public representative has served the purpose or displayed any interest in fulfilling the aspirations of the Garo sentiments, which is the express right over the GHADC.”
They claimed that according to a survey that they conducted, the Garo community is unanimously rejecting the participation of non-tribals in the GHADC polls.
The NGOs will organise campaigns to create awareness among the people of Garo hills with regard to the issue of non-tribals contesting the polls.
A public meeting will be held in Ramchenga (S.G .Hills) on October 5. It will be followed by a series of meetings in Eden Bari, Sunny Hills, Matchakolgre, Lower Hawakhana in West Garo Hills on October 6, Williamnagar and East Garo Hills and Bangsi A’pal, North Garo Hills on October 7.
The conglomerate of NGOs has declared October 10, 11 and 12 as days of mourning.
