‘Garoland demand to continue even after peace accord’

Shillong : A rebel group in Meghalaya that would next week sign a peace accord with the central government Thursday said it would continue with its original demand for a separate Garoland state.

“We will continue with our demand for the creation of a separate Garoland state (to be carved out of Meghalaya) politically and through non-violence after signing the peace accord with the central and Meghalaya governments,” Arist Sengsrang Sangma, spokesman of the A’chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC), told IANS.


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The Centre Wednesday announced the signing of the peace accord with two rebel outfits – ANVC and its breakaway group ANVC-B – operating in the five districts of Garo Hills in Meghalaya.

The accord will be signed Sep 24 in New Delhi after a decade of peace negotiations.

“This issue (Garoland) is very much alive as 80 percent of Garo people want a state of their own. Political parties, civil society groups and armed outfit Garo National Liberation Army are demanding the same,” Sangma said.

“We will continue to fight for a separate state as central government officials have told us that there is no harm in continuing with our original demand for a separate state but that should be fought through non-violence,” he said.

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