Meghalaya rebel group threatens to burn peace agreement

Shillong April 20 (IANS) The Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC-B) a disbanded rebel outfit in Meghalaya on Thursday said the Agreed Text of Settlement signed with the government was a total failure and threatened to burn the document publicly.

However a Union Home Ministry official said a lot of progress has been made in the implementation of the Agreed Text of Settlement signed with the disbanded Garo rebels -- the ANVC and its breakaway faction ANVC-B.

The agreement with the government is a total failure. Till today the implementation of the agreement has not been monitored properly by the government former ANVC-B Chairman Bernard Rimpu N. Marak said.

He said the Agreed Text of Settlement with the government is in a standstill after it was signed on September 24 2014 as the government did not take any interest in the implementation of the Agreed Text of Settlement.

Slamming the Mukul Sangma-led government for the delay in providing the rehabilitation packages to ANVC-B Marak threatened to burn the Agreed Text of Settlement publicly if the government fails to disburse the package within September 24 next.

Fearing queries they did not even held meetings with us (ANVC-B) to review the progress of the agreement. The state played with us by delaying and dishonouring the agreement. Burning away the agreement is what we have in our mind now Marak said.

Earlier Union Joint Secretary Home in-charge North East Satyendra Garg said a lot of progress has been made as far as rehabilitation is concerned and the central government is satisfied with whatever progress has been made in this connection.

Garg who held a review meeting with Meghalaya government officials here on Thursday admitted that there is a delay for releasing of rehabilitation package for the ANVC-B due to some operational issues.

There are certain norms required to be followed during the rehabilitation process. We have been briefed by the Meghalaya government on this and they will address those issues Garg said.

The Home Ministry official asked the surrendered rebels from the two disbanded groups to follow the ground rules laid by the government. Those rules should be followed failing which they would be liable for legal action.

Garg said a formal review meeting on the matter would be held sometime in May-June to discuss on other issues.

The ANVC and its splinter group ANVC-B formally disbanded at a public ceremony at Tura the district headquarters of West Garo Hills on December 15 2014 before Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and his cabinet colleagues.

--IANS
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