A’chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) says it is ready for talks with Meghalaya government. Not now, but at a later stage. Right now it is focused on talks with the Centre and its feud with chief minister D. D. Lapang.

Lapang is trying to sabotage our peace talks, central leadership of the banned outfit complains. General Secretary Wanding Marak, said that the peace talks had  already begun with the Central Government since the beginning of this year following a meeting between the ANVC leadership and the Joint Director of Intelligence Bureau in Bangkok where a memorandum was submitted putting forward their demands of a ‘Greater Garoland.’

Groundwork for New Delhi – ANVC dialogue is completed. The talks will begin very soon, Marak claimed. To go for talks was a collective decision of the ANVC general headquarters, he added. That means Chairman Dilash Marak, vice-chairman William Marak, Commander-in-chief Jerome Momin, and General Secretary Wanding Mark are parties to the decision. What about the statements of Deputy Prime Minister, L. K. Advani, and Minister of State for Home, I. D. Swami, that no talks are taking place? Replies Wanding Marak: ‘We are only in the initial stages of our parleys with the Home Ministry officials. There are presently no written documents on either side. This is true for a fact. So, the Deputy PM is right. Anyhow, the talks are not at his level.. I can assure you that discussions have begun.’ He further said, ‘Lapang (Chief Minister) is trying his level best to sabotage the peace talks for reasons best known to him. We are keen on talks. We want to see peace return to our Garo Hills like the rest of our people, but he (Meghalaya Chief Minister) is becoming a stumbling block. What can I say? We feel sad with his attitude …….’ Wanding Marak has denied that the ANVC is unwilling to talk with the Meghalaya Government.

‘We are aware that law and order is a State subject.  The State Government needs to be brought into the discussions. Time will come when discussions will be with the State Government but that time has not yet come.’ 

He also said that presently there was no decision for calling a ceasefire but in time it would happen. What is the role of P. A. Sangma and Zoramathanga ? “Both are playing the role of facilitators. Theirs is a positive role to usher in peace. Both are the middlemen between the Centre and us” Will ANVC accept the Garo Church as a facilitator for talks with the State Government? Yes, said, Wanding Marak. “We will accept the Church in facilitating the talks provided our demands are met. We do not want the Church to come to us to negotiate for our surrender like what happened during the erstwhile ALMA days. The Government should not use the Church leaders solely to bring us over ground to surrender. We are not for surrendering but for a meaningful dialogue to fulfil the aspirations of our Garo people. The government should not mislead the Church.” Meanwhile, Meghalaya Home Minister Robert G Lyngdoh said that there was no proposal to lift the ban from underground militant outfits ANVC HNLC.

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