TURA, Nov 8 - The welcoming of the High Court order seeking consideration of Army operations within the Garo Hills by the Assam-Meghalaya Peace Forum (AMPF) has not gone down well with the people of the region. The Achik Students� Welfare Association (ASWA), which condemned the AMPF statement, said that it was insulting.
The AMPF had in a release yesterday stated its support for the imposition of Army rule within the region, hoping that it would ensure peace within the Garo Hills.
�We condemn the demand made by the AMPF to impose the AFSPA in the Garo Hills region. It is like an insult to the demand made by the Garo people not to impose the AFSPA in the Garo Hills, worrying about gross human rights violations� said Dikki Marak, ASWA president.
It is also an insult to valiant individuals like Irom Sharmila who has been fighting for the repeal of the AFSPA since the last 15 years or so and the recommendations made by some commissions and UN human rights bodies to repeal the AFSPA,� added Marak.
�It is surprising to learn that a peace forum is demanding war-like operations instead of demanding peace talks. We suggest that they should work towards bringing back militants to join the mainstream and pressurising the Government to initiate peace talks instead of demanding the imposition of the AFSPA,� he added.
The student body highlighted the ills of the AFSPA and why it would not be the best solution to the present situation.
The ASWA further stated that it would oppose the imposition of such a law in the region while believing that the Meghalaya Police had the capacity to handle the situation with help from the State Government and the Centre.
The student body further wanted the State Government to play a proactive role in resolving the issue. �We also demand that the Government of Meghalaya must take steps to bring back our brothers in the jungle to the mainstream and also appeal a halt to antisocial activities,� Marak added.
