SHILLONG/ TURA: Around 1000 people led by Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) leaders Angela Rangad and Tarun Bhartiya took out a rally in the city on Monday expressing their stiff opposition to the High Court of Meghalaya recommendation for implementation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Garo Hills.
The rally started from Madan Iewrynghep and concluded at the CTO parking lot at IGP.
The anti-AFSPA rally was attended by citizens and members of TUR, Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO), Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Garo Students’ Union (GSU) and Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP).
Addressing the gathering during the rally, TUR leader Angela Rangad said AFSPA will disturb peace even more in Garo Hills. She added that they did not want MMPO, MPDA or AFSPA but only want peace in Garo Hills by way of talks.
Rangad feared that implementation of AFSPA would bring about more cases of rapes and killings in Garo Hills.
“Peace cannot be forced. You cannot bring peace by imposing AFSPA. Peace has to come with justice, truth and reconciliation,” she added.
TUR member Tarun Bhartiya maintained that AFSPA gives clear cut impunity to the police and army for doing whatever they want like killing people and no one can take them to court.
KSU education secretary Donald Thabah said AFSPA was initiated by British Raj to quell the Quit India Movement and added that if Inner Line Permit is outdated then AFSPA is also outdated.
“Instead of AFSPA, why can’t the government implement the Lokayukta and the Inner Line Permit,” he said, while claiming that the families of ULFA cadres were being killed in Assam just for revenge.
In Tura, a rally aimed at bringing peace and harmony as well as to oppose the proposed enforcement of AFSPA was held at Chandmary Playground on Monday.
The programme was organized by several NGOs including the GSU (Interim), GHSMC, ASWA, TGCSU and AAYF in which Church leaders, members of the Tura Garo Senior Citizens Forum (TGSCF), NGO leaders, students and the general public attended.
The meeting unanimously voiced concern over the possible enforcement of the AFSPA in Garo Hills and resolved to strongly oppose it while at the same time appealing to the various militant groups in the region not to invoke its enforcement with their inhuman acts.
Senior citizen and former Pro Vice Chancellor of NEHU and ICFAI, Dr. Milton S Sangma said the people need to send a strong message to the militant groups about the people’s opposition to killing and kidnapping of innocent civilians.
Stating that several militant groups have mushroomed up over the years in Garo Hills in the name of a separate Garoland, Dr. Sangma questioned the true motive of the militant groups when Garos themselves fall victims to their killings and kidnappings on a daily basis.
He also blamed the State government for its failure to contain the situation saying, “With political will peace could have been achieved” even as he urged the State government to convince the Centre not to enforce the AFSPA in Garo Hills.
GSU president from Tikrikilla, Walseng A Sangma, said that while the creation of a separate Garoland was the need of the hour it could not be achieved by senseless violence and killings and kidnappings of innocent citizens. He highlighted the grave consequences that the AFSPA would bring upon the innocent citizens and cited various instances of atrocities, harassment and torture being faced by the people of Manipur where the act is currently in force.
Leader of the Tura Garo Senior Citizens’ Forum (TGSCF), W.G. Momin urged the people to be united to oppose the AFSPA at all cost.
Following the meeting at Chandmary a crowd of over 2000 people undertook a procession from the meeting venue to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office shouting anti-AFSPA slogans.
