SHILLONG, Nov 7 - Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) members on Saturday expressed �deep concern� over the decision of the Meghalaya High Court asking the Central Government to consider imposition of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the Garo Hills region.
In a memorandum submitted to the Union Home Minister for State, Kiren Rijiju, 16 Members of the Garo Hills Progressive Alliance (GHPA) said, �We strongly oppose the imposition of AFSPA in Garo Hills region.� GHPA is a coalition of the Nationalist people�s party, BJP and Independents.
Appealing to the Central Government �to take appropriate measures� to resolve the issue of terrorism and militancy in the region, the Members observed that much of the problems have arisen due to socio-economic backwardness of the region.
�We have always felt that one of the major causes of insurgency, in any region, has been socio economic conditions that prevail in the area and strongly feel that military action is not a viable solution,� the GHPA Members said.
They said that there is a need for a multi pronged approach so that there is all-round development in the region creating employment opportunities for the youth of the region.
�Problem is socio economic factors and militancy is a result of this problem and by not understanding the cause and effect factors we are not targeting the root cause,� they added.
