SHILLONG, JULY 29: The Joint Opposition Alliance (JOA) threatened to stage mass protest against the move of the present Executive Committee (EC) of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to pass the alleged ‘anti-people bill’
According to JOA the move is to dilute the Garo customary laws in the name of codification which is highly objectionable.
The decision to take out mass protest was taken at a meeting comprising of all opposition parties of Garo hills and ngos like GNC, NPP, UDP, BJP, GHSMC, GSU (interim), AYWO and AAYF on Wednesday.
“The JOA has resolved to organise the mass protest if the present EC bulldoze to pass the anti-people bill,” JOA member secretary Augustine R Marak said in a statement.
He also said, the JOA strongly warns the present GHADC EC led by Congress against bulldozing the anti-people bill during the on-going council’s session that commenced from Wednesday and last till July 31.
“It has come to the knowledge of the Joint Opposition Alliance; that one of EM from the present EC has been campaigning vigorously to pass the bill within the remaining 2 days of the session,” Marak claimed.
He further alleged that the GHADC EC is bulldozing the bill for the interest of certain people. “The bill is against the sentiment, custom, practise and usages of Garos,” he said.
According to him, the codification of Garo Customary Laws, Bill 2009 covered the chapters of the family, clan system, marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance, a.king lands and nokmaship, moral laws, criminal and non-criminal laws, religious laws and social prohibition or taboo.
The bill was drafted by the committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Milton Sangma.
The clauses of the chapter clan system written (in Garo) as – “Magipa Garo, pagipa Garo ong.ja; uamangni bi.sarangkoba Garo inen Changen, Garo ong.gijagipa me.asakoba A.chik me.chiko kimode Garo inen changen, ma.gipa Garo ong.jaoba, pagipa Garo ong.ode uamangni bisakoba Garo inen changen, Garo ong.gijagipa me.chik, Garo me.asako kimode ukoba Garo inen changen”.
“These clauses or sentences are against the custom, practise and usages of Garo community. These clauses or sentences have to be rectified before the general public, stakeholders through organising awareness cum consultation programmes or through some other programmes,” Marak stated.- By Our Reporter
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