By IANS,
Shillong : The central government Thursday extended the ceasefire with Meghalaya’s outlawed Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) for another year, according to a spokesman of the rebel group.
The decision to extend the tripartite truce between the central and Meghalaya governments and the ANVC was taken after intense negotiations.
“We have agreed in principle that the ceasefire will be extended for another year from Oct 1,” ANVC spokesman Arist Sangma told IANS after the joint monitoring group meeting.
The meeting was attended by union Joint Secretary, Home (in-charge North East Affairs) Shambu Singh, Meghalaya’s Principal Secretary Home K.S. Kropha and ANVC general secretary Wanding K. Marak.
ANVC, a tribal rebel group operating in Garo Hills region, is fighting for creation of Garoland Territorial Council. It had entered into a tripartite ceasefire with the central and the Meghalaya governments July 23, 2004.
The ceasefire was to expire on Sep 30.
The Meghalaya government had asked the central government not to waste time and reach an “acceptable tripartite accord” with the ANVC for lasting peace in the Garo Hills.
The outfit held its first round of political dialogue with New Delhi’s pointsman and former Intelligence Bureau director Pradyot Chandra Haldar on their demand for creation of the Garoland council in line of Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had expressed hope that a solution would soon be found for a settlement with the ANVC to ensure lasting peace in the Garo Hills.