Peace pact to be inked on Sept 24 in Delhi

ANVC spokesperson Arist Sengrang Sangma speaking to reporter after Wednesday's meeting.- Pix by WT Lytan — ***ANVC spokesperson Arist Sengrang Sangma speaking to reporter after Wednesday’s meeting.- Pix by WT Lytan***

SHILLONG, SEPT 17: The long awaited peace pact between the two militant outfits- Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) and its breakaway faction ANVC(B)- and the Meghalaya and union governments is all set to be inked in New Delhi on September 24.

Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said on Wednesday after a meeting with the ANVC leaders, “The final signing of the text agreement for settlement will be signed next week on September 24 in Delhi.”.

Sangma informed that the peace pact will be signed with the ANVC and the ANVC(B) whose leaders did not attend Wednesday meeting held in Shillong.

The ANVC and ANVC(B) had officially agreed for signing of peace settlement in January last year with the Meghalaya government so that peace returns to the trouble torn Garo hills region consisting of five districts in Meghalaya.

The ANVC had at first demanded formation of a Greater Garoland but later climb down to a formation of the Garoland Autonomous Council in line with the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).

But when it was found that formation of the council in line with the BTC will not be viable as the state has district councils, the ANVC agreed to the proposal of strengthening of Garo Hills Autonomous District Council with more seats and additional powers.

Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma, home minister Roshan Warjri and chief secretary PBO Warjri seen with ANVC leaders during Wednesday's meeting. Pix by WT Lytan — ***Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma, home minister Roshan Warjri and chief secretary PBO Warjri seen with ANVC leaders during Wednesday’s meeting. Pix by WT Lytan***

The process for signing of peace patch between the state,central governments and the two militant outfits was delay as the centre wanted clarity on the number of seats which needs to be increased from the present 30 in GHADC to 40 and also the increase of seats in other two Autonomous Councils in the state.

Stating that the armed ANVC would be disbanded after the final peace settlement is signed next week, the outfit’s spokesperson Arist Sengrang Sangma said the leaders would pursue the cause of greater Garoland through non-violence methods.

Asked on the other armed militants groups operating in the Garo hills region whose ideology were also similar to the ANVC, Sangma said, “They are different groups and they are not part of the settlement (signed).”

“Politically they have to negotiate with the government. Our main demand was greater Garoland. Once we disband, we will still keep on demanding the Garo land but not through arms struggle,” Sangma said.

The ANVC had signed a tripartite agreement way back in 2004.- By Our Reporter