TURA: Barely a day after the entire Chambugong clan rose in protest against their Danakgre A’king nokma Enilla Ch Marak for attempting to hand over power and authority of the nokmaship to former ANVC-B chief Bernard Rimpu N Marak, the controversial lady nokma has issued a statement dissolving all locality headmen and nokmas, including Marak.
In a statement purportedly issued by the Danakgre Nokma, she stated that in the light of the ongoing controversy surrounding her nokmaship a decision was taken by the family to dissolve all nokmas and headmen of localities of Tura town that fall within her A; king jurisdiction.
“From A’bri Rongnokma, Damalgre A’king, Gandrak stream, Ringre and beyond to localities and villages falling under the Sangsang stream, all nokmas and headmen under these areas including Tura town headman Bernard Marak (Rimpu) are hereby removed,” claimed the Danakgre Nokma who herself is facing a removal from Nokmaship by her Chambugong clan which has already filed a complaint with the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council.
The statement further added that henceforth no locality would be able to appoint any headman or nokma without the consent of the A’king Nokma, in this case Enilla Marak herself.
However, it remains to be seen whether her order has the authority given that a case against her is already underway in the GHADC for attempting to give the nokma’s power to an outsider, in this case the former militant chief.
On Friday, the Chambugong clan had given a petition in the GHADC seeking Enilla Marak’s removal from the Nokmaship.
With the GHADC allowing the petition to be filed and the case to go forward, council authorities indicate that her powers could be nullified until the case is disposed of in the district council court.
Rimpu steps down: The former ANVC-B chief Bernard Rimpu N Marak has in a statement announced that he is stepping down from his self-proclaimed post of Tura town Nokma. The move comes following a public protest and rally against Bernard Marak on Friday that was spearheaded by the Chambugong clan.
“It is time for me to step down because I don’t think Akhing Nokma needs me anymore as she is well aware that Tura town by all legal stand falls under her Akhing. In the past, the Akhing Nokmas of Danakgre were not allowed to exercise their power in Tura area by GHADC. It was told to the Akhing Nokmas that Tura town is not the part of Danakgre Akhing. So nobody in Tura town took the consent of the Akhing Nokma and GHADC transferred and settled land to individuals as though land were theirs,” stated Bernard Marak.
Acknowledging his active support for the Danakgre nokma, he added, “I helped the Akhing Nokma to establish her authority in Tura area in the capacity of the Nokma which was nothing but strengthening of the traditional system. Now it is the Akhing Nokma who will establish her authority in her Akhing area, there was no threat that I would have had any bindings on the Nokmaship permanently as I was approved for only 5 years.”
He also criticized the GHADC and accused it of encouraging population growth in Tura town for political benefits.
“GHADC has failed the Garos of Tura as they even handed over the Tura town area to Municipality in 1974. People are unaware of the facts that Garos are victimized by double taxes from GHADC and Municipality over land, the trade licences etc., and the benefit of all goes to the political groups. There is also a fear of income tax being slapped on the Garos in the Municipal areas. All these matters have been kept in mind when they authorized me as the Nokma of Tura. My duty to make people aware that Tura is an Akhing land and not a Khas Mahal has been accepted by public. I will refrain from my role as a Nokma of Tura,” concluded Bernard Marak in his statement.