TURA, DEC 15: The two major militant outfits — the A’chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) and its breakaway faction – ANVC (B) were formally disbanded at a public ceremony held at Dikki Bandi stadium at Dakopgre on Monday.
A total of 748 cadres from both the outfits witnessed the disbanding ceremony, which was attended by members of Shalom Meghalaya, Nokmas (village head), ngos and general public. The ANVC had 447 cadres, whereas its breakaway faction had 301 cadres.
The chairman and commander-in-chiefs of both the outfit signed the affirmation agreement, which puts an end to the violent chapter of the “most dreaded” rebel group of Meghalaya. The ANVC was represented by Dilash Marak and Jerome Momin and its breakaway faction was represented by Rimphu Marak and Mukosh Marak.
The cadres from both the outfit laid down arms before chief minister Mukul Sangma in presence of sports and youth affairs minister Zenith Sangma, health minister AL Hek, urban affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and a host of other dignitaries, including chief secretary Barkos Warjri and Meghalaya DGP Peter PJP Haneman.
The ANVC submitted 93 arms and its breakaway faction 98. Interestingly, there were only a few AKs and sophisticated weapons.
The disband ceremony began at 11:30 am and lasted for about 3 hours.
The cadres of ANVC including its chairman Dilash Marak were in uniform. The breakaway faction of the outfit was in civil dress. The chairman of ANVC (B) Rimphu Marak was wearing a blue Nehru coat.
West Garo hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi welcomed the gathering and said that the disbanding of the two outfits will reinstate peace and reconciliation in Garo hills.
Bishop of Tura catholic dioceses, Reverend Andrew Marak prayed for forgiveness for violent acts committed by the rebels and urged the cadres to change their attitude and thinking as they lead a new life.
Pastor of Hawakhana Baptist Church Reverend Frithing D. Sangma highlighting the violent era of the outfits said, “God has answered the prayers that both the outfit have come forward to join the mainstream”. He congratulated the outfits and urged them to follow a good way of life.
Urging the cadres to seek forgiveness before God, the pastor said, “With guns we can’t bring peace. Jesus is the prince of peace”. He also asked the cadres to struggle like common people as the lead a new life ahead.
Quoting Martin Luther King Junior – “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”, the chairman of ANVC Dilash Marak said, “When we started our war we did not follow any example set by any oppressed or suppressed indigenous group. Our minds were crystal clear. We were not misguided and we did nothing for personal glory or instant to get rich, earn quick income or live life of kingly comfort and luxury”.
Stating that their armed struggle was not like that of Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh or Netaji Subhas Bose, Marak said, “Our dreams and aspirations were very simple and uncomplicated. It was not about building designer houses and buying flashy cars for ourselves but it was about the deliberate, reversible injustices laced with despotism, corruption, insolence and trampling of the rights of a nation of people, we call A’chiks”.
The chairman of ANVC justified its armed movement by saying that they were forced to fight for the A’chik (Garo tribe) as they faced gross economic, social, cultural and political injustice.
“We did because we were convinced that A’chik ‘nation’ should not take things lying down meekly and instead stand up assertively. We stood up against the formidable might of the Indian state, though it meant extreme discomfort at times. We were emotionally connected to the nation of people, whose cause we championed, whose issues we preserve to advocate”, said Marak.
Stating that they led a “punishing life” in the wilderness, Marak said, “We have come back to join the mainstream and bid farewell to arms of conventional weaponry like infamous AKs and glorified MPs and instead take up arms of a different kind that do not kill, harm or maim the human body, that do not shed blood, that do not cause fear or terror”.
He also declared that ANVC will cease to exist from today.
“Today we have sloughed off the old skin and have replaced it with a new revolutionary one. It is the new way of facing the corrupt despots and tyrants, who ceaselessly plot to deprive the indigenous peoples of their entitlements, which the elitists and the excessively privileged will not understand, and it is for the same reasons we have baptised and renamed ourselves as Chel’longma Kotok (colony of hornets)”, Marak added.
The chief of ANVC ended his speech by thanking the people for bearing with the inconveniences they unleashed in the past.
The chairman of ANVC (B) Rimphu Marak stated that they have achieved something from their armed struggle by convincing the government on the need to strengthen the traditional institutions — like the Nokmas and the district council.
Terming the disband ceremony as “special” and “blessed”, the ANVC (B) chief announced that he along with all other cadres will join politics. However, he refused to name the political group, when asked.
ANVC chief also expressed his keenness to join politics saying it is a “better option”, however, he refused to say which party he intends to join. When asked, whether he will float a new party, he said, “We will decide after considering the national political scenario”.- From Our Correspondent
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