SHILLONG, JUNE 11: The state government will “re-look” into the proposed peace talks with the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militant outfit as it had failed to eschew violence even as chief minister Mukul Sangma informed the assembly on Wednesday that he would also write to all state governments in the north east on the need to collectively tackle insurgency in the region.
The chief minister said, “We will have to review the proposed talks and take appropriate decision whether this type of outfit deserve to be call for talks or not.” He informed that the state government had already engaged with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on how to proceed with the proposed talks with the GNLA as GNLA has been declared as a terrorist outfit by the centre, the appointment of interlocutor will have to be jointly decided by the centre and state governments. He said the proposal had already been sent.
The chief minister inform the house that the government agreed for the proposal for talks with the GNLA as it had got appeal from different political organization and religious institutions from Garo Hills.
The chief minister however lamented that despite the positive response from the government the GNLA continued to indulge in committing heinous criminal activities that give a perception that the state government is incapable of neutralizing their activities.
The chief minister also expressed concern on Meghalaya being used as a “corridor” for routing sophisticated arms and ammunition by the militant outfits from neigbouring states including Assam.
The chief minister said,“As per inputs available with the intelligent agencies of centre and state government, the militant outfits like the United Liberation front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) have been using Meghalaya as a corridor as they find it more convenience to raise militant outfits in the region.
According to the chief minister most of the GNLA and other militant outfits cadres operating in the state are either from Assam or Bangladesh as there are lots of Garo settlers. He said,“The fact that nobody came to claim the dead bodies of the four ANVC(B) cadres who were killed in an encounter in Tura is an indication they are not from our land.” He informed that the convention of the indigenous tribal is even if the deceased is a most dreaded criminal; his family or children will always retrieve the body for conducting last rites and rituals.
Pointing that the north east region has become a source for supplying all kind of arms and ammunition not only for militant groups operating in the region but across the country, the chief minister said, “Today, even the terrorist like Maoist who usually used only the muzzle loading guns, now have access to sophisticated arms which is because of the north east region.”
The chief minister was of the opinion that such sophisticated weapons are not manufactured anywhere in Shillong, Tura or Guwahati and therefore felt that this problem needs to be address by all state governments and the centre. He said, “ I will soon write to all the seven states on this regard as there is a need for a broader approach to this, by engaging even neigbouring countries like Bangladesh and others to fight insurgency related problem.”
Assuring that his government has the political will to tackle militancy problem, the chief minister informed a delegation led by him will also meet the union government to renew all engagements on tackling the problem of militancy in the state immediately after the ongoing re-assembled budget session of the state is over.- By Our Reporter
If talks are on, the one who will also lose are those in power in Government, and many Police who are illegally running coal mines, extorting, illegal collection from check gates, etc etc…and also the secret Fund of the Police will become defunct…So no wonder they do not want to call for talks….its no surprise….when Bangladesh Govt has made refugees many of its own people, why is the CM so interested in having talks with them when he cannot even be having talks with his own people…or maybe its right he is not a Garo….very very debatable now….And he seems to be reading something written by his babus, and he is blushing as he is reading it….who is running the show here…Babus, Police or the Representatives…..When he can have surrendered militants in his party why is he not calling all for peace once and for all…What are they planning, we have to know as he cannot decide on his own without taking public opinion….He should remember he is a Representative and not a Dictator…People are also fed up of militancy…the reign of terror is not acceptable from any quarters…The feel of money by few should not destroy the whole society which is already small.. Militants who have been used by Politicians, Bureaucrats, Police, better expose all that is going on as people have a right to know…Which Politicians is running which group should also be made public. Which police instead of seizing the foreign guns and making a seizure list is using their(militants) guns should also be exposed…who tells who to kill or be shot should also be exposed..Police who are ordered by their boss to shoot to kill their own men or women should also speak out as this has gone far enough…what goes around, comes around so we should not think we are immune …we are not…we breed a snake it turns into a python and will even eat you up one day…Unity is the strength to expose the rot within Governance which is a reign of terror by Representatives, who remain adamant to call for peace…They play the divide and rule strategy…But no where in any religion does it say Hate, Kill, extort, Torture..those who are perpetrating such acts are all the same, and cannot claim to be from any religion…People in Garo Hills want peace and as a Social Welfare State, it is the responsibility of the State to bring about Peace…Something is very wrong when a CM is bringing about war and instigating other states in it too…