December 15, 2014, would however go into the records and remembrance of the people, especially of Achikland or Garo Hills of western Meghalaya, who amidst the season of joy, have much more reason to be thankful and celebrate. The Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), which was formed on December 20, in the year 1995, vowed to bring about justice in the political and economic sense through agitations. Yet along the way desperation probably led the youths to take up arms, to believe that the barrel of the guns can speak louder than hoarse cries and shouts in the streets and market places.

However as the days and years rolled on, the agitating militants realized to have taken the wrong turn down the road for bringing about a betterment among the people, most of whom lived in remote neglected villages where roads are just jungle tracks and muddy lanes, which politicians shy and shun to tread. The armed struggle infact worsened the situation and plight of the people, especially the helpless, the poor and needy, women folk and their children.

The hide and seek shoot outs, and skirmishes with the police and para military armed forces, took its toll, mostly precious and innocent lives were lost, fear struck on the mind of the people including the traders, the teachers, the officials and government workers, as the kidnapping and the serving of demand notes grew from day to day. The whole of Garo Hills was in fact in the grip of insecurity. It was no longer an easy living for anyone. A cease-fire between the rebels of the ANVC and government forces was reached on July 23, in the year 2004. Yet the situation did not improve and acts of violence did not subside. The ANVC found itself to be a fractured organization with the split, which led to the formation of the ANVC (B). The cease-fire did not hold good, as other terror organizations emerged. The Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) and other smaller groups are still at large and operating not for any greater cause of a Garo Land, but for gaining financial shares which are substantial, money which is laundered in the purchase of weapons and sophisticated arms and ammunitions, including bombs used against police patrols and also placed in public places.

It was only in September 24, 2014, that a memorandum of understanding was signed in New Delhi, between representatives of the ANVC militants and also the ANVC (B) and of the Union and state governments, that a ray of hope could be achieved in a peace settlement. This was followed by making way for preparations of disbanding the parent and splintered groups of the ANVC. As far as the ANVC is concerned, insurgency has reached the end of the road.

The Chief Minister of the Congress - led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) government had stated that the disbanding of the orgainsation is only one part. It is just a beginning, subsequent to which there are many other parameters which need to be fulfilled. The state government has termed the disbanding ceremony as “Home Coming”, home coming of the wayward sons and daughters, which should match the joy and spirit of the home coming of far away relatives, to be together in this season of peace and joy and share together the happiness and the warmth of love. The returnees from the path of violence however wish to call the occasion an “ECDYSIS”

For the ANVC it is indeed an ‘Ecdysis’, the shedding away of the old skin, at the Tikki Bandi stadium in Tura, where the guns will no longer boom but turn into trumpets to herald that peace has settled in the land. The group further feels that henceforth they would like to be called as the “Chellongma Kotok”, which literally means a group of wasps. It is a bit difficult to comprehend why they should now play the role of wasps having a characteristic of attacking with their sting, or is it having some philosophical thought or bearing.

by U Sumar Sing Sawian

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