TURA: Differences have begun to surface within the ranks of the ANVC-B outfit with its new political secretary accusing the group’s chairman Rimpu N Marak and the Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma of doing little to take the peace process forward.
In a statement to the media on Thursday, ANVC-B political secretary Takatjingjong K Sangma accused his own chairman and also the state chief minister of failing to disclose the drafting agreement between the government and the outfit.
“For a final settlement with the central government a drafting agreement was prepared and signed but even till now it has not been shown to the rest of the organization nor has any discussion taken place on it,” said the ANVC-B political secretary.
He alleged that even after the ANVC-B had agreed to peace and its cadres were allowed to stay in Tura, yet, the government has not initiated any political talks and continue to brand them as criminals with arms thereby treating them inhumanly.
The accusation against Rimpu Marak by one of his own leaders appears to show the open rebellion taking place within the organization with even the chairman himself recently claiming that a few other leaders such as Rangdo, Nado Marak and Ajaju Martak had left the outfit unhappily.
He has appealed to civil society leaders, Church elders and NGOs of Garo Hills to take the lead in initiating a movement for lasting peace just as they had done during the time of ALMA and ANVC insurgency era.
“At the time of ALMA and ANVC,church leaders, NGOs, educated masses and political leaders came together to bring about peace. That is clearly missing this time. We appeal to them to seriously look into the issue for the betterment of Garo Hills,” signed off the ANVC-B political secretary.
