Govt committed to peace

SHILLONG, SEPT 8: Even as the Meghalaya government said it is genuinely committed to bringing about peace in the state, it however informed that the centre had directed the state government not to hold any talks with the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) as the outfit is still carrying out violence and illegal activities in Garo hills region.

The GNLA has been declared as a terrorist group by the centre.

“The centre has advised the state government not to hold talk with them (GNLA) as they are still very much active in carrying out violence and illegal activities in Garo Hills,” Meghalaya government political department under secretary B Khongwir said in a statement issued on Monday.

The state government statement came after the GNLA has recently threatened to carry out serial blasts in Garo hills region even as it said that the chief minister had sideline the Garo militant outfit but initiated to hold talks with the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).

GNLA threatened to trigger off serial blasts in Garo hills saying it will target government institutions and Congress offices as it is allegedly being left out for peace negotiations.

The government statement, however, however clarified, “It (state government) had earlier written to the central government the need for holding talks with GNLA and other militant groups in order to rid the state of the scourge of insurgency and ensure that developmental projects do not get stalled.”

The state government stated that it would like to place on record its genuine commitment for bringing in peace and harmony amongst all sections of the people so that the fruits of development are made available to the people of the state as a whole. – By Our Reporter