SHILLONG, JAN 5: The complex Garo Hills problem is closer to being resolved, but for the GNLA. A multi-party meeting involving the two factions of the ANVC, representatives of the state and Centre held here on Saturday ended on positive note and an agreement looked imminent; in fact as early as next week.
“The meeting was cordial and fruitful and we are looking forward to the next meeting scheduled for mid next week where we might sign the memorandum of understanding,” said the ANVC publicity secretary Arist Sangma at the end of a three-and-half hour long meeting. “Even our breakaway faction (ANVC-B) has agreed to (what transpired) in the meeting”, he added.
Echoing his sentiments, Shambu Singh, the joint secretary, ministry of home affairs (North-East), said: “The text (of the agreement) has been frozen and it will go through the process of various approvals, including that of the state cabinet and the Union cabinet, before the final document is signed by the parties concerned.”
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma appeared equally upbeat when he spoke about offering a New Year gift to the people in the Garo Hills who, he said, have suffered enough on account of militancy. “They (people) now look forward to reverting to a period of peace, harmony, growth and development. Let us all work together to grant them this as a New Year gift,” he said.
Central interlocutor P. C. Haldar , too, sounded very positive. “I am happy we have concluded the preparation of the agreed points… I expect early a settlement. Now the state government will do the processing. Normally it does not take very long,” he said.
One the key ANVC demand for the creation of a Garoland Autonomous Council on the lines of the Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam, the state government made it clear that this was not acceptable because the Garo Hills already has an autonomous district council under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to look after the welfare of the indigenous community. However, both the Centre and the state government have conceded to the ANVC’S 13-point demand that include expansion of the powers of the district council. The ANVC has also demanded that the strength of the district council should be raised to 40 seats.
The state cabinet is scheduled to meet on Monday to take a call on the Garo agreement.
The meeting was attended, among others, by Halder, Singh, Sangma, Meghalaya chief secretary W. M. S. Pariat, ANVC secretary Wanding K. Marak, joint secretary J. G. Momin, publicity secretary Sangman, intelligence secretary Rocky Sangma and ANVC-B chairman Bernard N. Marak.
The ANVC also said the Centre had agreed to make a provision for direct funding of the district council through the state finance commission. The Centre, it said, has also agreed to provide a special package for the development of the Garo Hills, but the exact amount would be made known in the next meeting.
The 168 members of the ANVC will surrender arms once the memorandum of settlement is being signed.
The ANVC, which was formed in 1996 to fight for the cause of a separate Garo state by carving out areas from Meghalaya and Assam, however, begged to to disagree with the GNLA which was not part of the negotiations. “Their ideology is different since they are demanding a separate state,” said the ANVC spokesman.
The GNLA, which remained incommunicado, could yet play the spoilsport. (By Oh!Meghalaya reporting team)
