SHILLONG: The GSU FKJGP, CSWO and the Association for Democracy and empowerment have condemned the killing of the 35-year old by the GNLA.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, GSU president Tengsak G Momin, said that the killing of the woman in front of her children was inhuman.
“The GNLA militants came to the house of Josbina Sangma, dragged her out after confining her husband, Abel Sangma, and killing her in front of her children is so horrific in nature that it demands the highest condemnation”, the GSU leader said.
While condemning the incident, the FKJGP president Pritam R Marak also appealed to all the people of Garo Hills not to pass off the incident of killing of the woman as an isolated case but to “rise up and seek for our human rights”.
Meanwhile, the GSU president urged the GNLA to stop the killing of their own people and remind them that a conglomeration of the NGOs, Church leaders and senior citizens have been trying its best to bring peace to Garo Hills by involving every insurgent group possible under the peace pact
The desire for peace and message sent by the UALA and the LAEF is a welcome step for bringing back normalcy to Garo Hills. The interest of the GNLA for peace talks gives one the hope that peace could reign once again in Garo Hills. But it will be of no use if the Centre Government is not convinced of the sincerity of the armed groups to come to a peaceful solution, the GSU president said
The GSU appealed GNLA to create an conducive atmosphere in Garo Hills for the peace talks. “GSU is very much part of the Unified Peace Forum which is taking up initiative for peace in Garo Hills.
“It is also shameful that the government fails to protect its citizens which is one of its prime duties and allows such a heinous act to be perpetrated”, the GSU rued.
The FKJGP president Pritam R Marak said that the FKJGP and civil society organisations have in the past always advocated for human rights and we stood for the human rights of every citizen be it petty criminals, unfortunate suspects and even militants. The public of Garo Hills too shared the empathy of standing for the human rights of every citizen regardless of their past deeds. So isn’t it time even militants show back their respect to the human rights of individuals whose only wish is to live life peacefully with their families”, the FKJGP leader said.
According to FKJGP, the organization is not against the ideology of any organization or organizations and in fact “we consider that every organization believes in an idea that revolves around the welfare of their own people however, recent activities seem to suggest that the procedures are certainly not being in the favour of our own people in fact, instead threatening our very human rights”.
The FKJGP also urged the Government to set up more police outposts in the sensitive areas of Garo Hills, mostly the rural areas where protection for the general public is minimal and where the people have to live every day with the fear for their lives.
The president of CSWO Agnes Kharshiing said that the organization was shocked and horrified at the brutal murder of the woman in front of her family in Raja Rongot Village, and asserted that the perpetrators will have to be booked for such a heinous crime.
” Killing a woman is a very cowardly act, whatever the reason one may have. In fact every life is precious and all those who kill share the same ideology, which is not justified”, Kharshiing said.
The CSWO president said that Garo Hills seems to be going from bad to worse and people are now caught between militants and police atrocities. “This is a very bad situation and politico-police-militants nexus seems to be thriving and people are caught in between”, Kharshiing said.
According to CSWO, innocent people are being arrested on mere suspicions by police who are even killing them and militants kill people suspecting them to be informers.
“One day, the perpetrators of the crimes will get killed by the system they are supporting, just as Fullmoon Dhar experienced in the hands of those who groomed him, and at the last minute he was silenced by the barrel of the gun”, Kharshiing added.
The Garo Hills based Association for Democracy and empowerment also condemned the killing.
The brutal and inhuman killing is unacceptable and a matter of disgrace to the society, the Association said.
Chamber Choir, women groups condemn killing
Neil Nongkynrih and the Shillong Chamber Choir has condemned the incident concerning the assault and murder of the mother of four in Ronggat in Chokpot. “We extend our support to the Garo people and those affected at this time of strife”, the Choir said.
Ka Lympung ki Seng Kynthei has also condemned the reported brutal killing of a fellow woman in front of her four children in South Garo Hills. “This inhuman act perpetrated on a woman has angered and deeply affected the sentiments of all right thinking people”, the organization said .
Ka Lympung ki Seng Kynthei also conveyed condolences to members of her family especially her husband and children.
“This inhuman act perpetrated on a woman has angered and deeply affected the sentiments of all right thinking people,” Ka Lympung ki Seng Kynthei said in statement.
The North East Network, a prominent group focusing on issues related to women also condemned the killing.
The Chairperson of North East Network, Darilyn Syiem said that no woman has ever been completely safe, physically or psychologically, whether in the personal or public space.
“In the case of Josbina M Sangma, her body has been used as the battlefield to fight for a cause that militants believe justifies all actions- as has been the case in Manipur or in other war stricken areas in the world”, Syiem said.
