SHILLONG, JAN 4: The Garo peace process received a fillip a day ahead of the tri-partite meeting with the A’chik National Volunteer Council (ANVC)-B on Friday agreeing to come on board and take part in the talks.
The ANVC-B, which is a breakaway faction of the ANVC, in a statement issued here said it had decided to take participate in the talks in the wake of chief minister Mukul Sangma’s invitation, and the desire for peace expressed by the people, especially the poor. “Our people have urged us to join this settlement process… Our priority is our people who have supported us, fed us and guided us… we acknowledge their appeals,” the ANVC said.
Stating that it had always maintained violence was not a solution to the problems of deprivation and injustice being faced by the poor people throughout the state, the ANVC said it was heeding to the people’s desire for peace as they are the ones to have suffered the most. The ANVC, the statement said, had always raised its voice against lack of development and injustice prevalent in the society.
The decision of the ANVC-B to take part in the talks has given rise to the hope of a positive outcome at tomorrow’s meeting. Apart from both the factions of the ANVC, the meeting will be attended by representatives of the Union home ministry and the state government. The chief minister has already expressed the hope that keeping the interests of the people of the region as the upper most consideration; it should be possible to find a settlement that would be mutually acceptable to all stakeholders.
The ANVC, of course, has been fighting for a separate state for the Garos by carving out parts of Meghalaya and Assam since its formation. (By Our Reporter)
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