TURA: Social and student organizations from Garo Hills are mobilizing thousands of people for a major rally in Tura and two other towns on Friday morning in opposition to any move aimed at imposition of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the region.
Three simultaneous public rallies are being planned for the towns of Tura, Williamnagar and Bajengdoba in North Garo Hills. The rallies are expected to begin on Friday from 11 AM onwards while Baghmara is reportedly planning to hold their own rally on Saturday.
There has been much discussion and debate on the issue of imposition of AFSPA following the recent Meghalaya High Court directive to the state and central governments on imposing AFSPA to contain the rising crime scenario in Garo Hills.
In Tura, organizations like the Garo Students’ Union central executive committee (Interim Body), the A’chik Students’ Welfare Association (ASWA), the All A’chik Youth Front (AAYF), the Garo Hills State Movement Committee (GHSMC), the Civil Society Women’s Organization, Garo Hills zone (CSWO) have joined hands with church leaders and sought permission for the 11 AM rally at Chandmari field.
The rally would be followed by a silent procession through the main thoroughfares of Tura town.
Opposition to any possible imposition of AFSPA is gaining momentum in the Garo Hills with more organizations including the FKJGP, ADE, AYWO and FAF also lending support for the protest rally and planning to march in unison during the silent procession with their followers and supporters.
Garo Hills Progressive Alliance opposes AFSPA
The Garo Hills Progressive Alliance in its legislature meeting, attended by all the MDCs, has also strongly opposed the application of AFSPA in Garo Hills.
GHADC CEM Denang T Sangma said that the imposition of AFSPA will be contrary to the will of the people since the Act has “completely failed to contain insurgency”.
“Insurgency has increased further after its application in Manipur and other states,” he said.
He said that militancy is majorly a result of socio economic issues and military action is not the solution to it.
“Strong development programmes focused towards employment generation for the youth of the region have to be taken to end the menace,” he said while appealing to the Centre to take appropriate action to ensure that AFSPA is not enforced in Garo Hills.
A resolution was also taken in this regard was also taken and a delegation to be headed by NPP leader Conrad Sangma will meet concerned authorities in New Delhi to submit the same.
