TURA: Continuing the protest against possible imposition of the AFSPA in Garo Hills, a public meeting cum rally was organized by the Rongram Area Citizens Forum (RACF) at Rongram Higher Secondary School Playground on Monday in which a mammoth gathering of over 5000 people mainly comprising of senior citizens, Nokmas, youths, women’s groups, Church leaders, NGOs and students participated.
During the meeting several speakers highlighted the draconian law of AFSPA and cited examples of gross human rights violations by the army in states like Manipur, Nagaland, Jammu and Kashmir where it is in place.
Youth leader and former president of DAYA, Roger Benny A Sangma appealed to all militants to come over ground and fight their battle for the betterment of Garo society.
He blamed the State Government for the deteriorating law and order situation in Garo Hills and said that imposing the AFSPA was not the solution.
He questioned the State Government on financial assistance provided under different schemes by the Ministry of Home Affairs like modernization of the state police force, security related expenditure and crime & criminal tracking network & system and wondered whether the amount had been properly implemented.
Sangma also urged various A’chik students’ organizations in other metropolitan cities like Bangalore A’chik Socio-Cultural Organization (BASCO), Delhi A’chik Youth Association (DAYA), Maharastra A’chik Youth Association (MAYA) and All Guwahati A’chik Students Association (AGASA) to oppose AFSPA in Garo Hills.
AAYF President, Salsam Marak demanded that a CBI investigation be instituted into the alleged militant-politician nexus.
Nokma of Waram A’sim, Mingjen Marak cautioned against the imposition of AFSPA and said that mostly daily wage earners and farmers will suffer if the same is imposed.
