'Garo Customary Law will be become a nightmare'

From A Reporter

SHILLONG, April 2: Former chairman of the now disbanded ANVC-B outfit, Berrd N. Marak on Sunday stated that in time the Garo Customary Law (GCL) will become a worse nightmare to the ‘pure’ Garos.

The statement from Marak came in wake of the passing of the Garo Customary Law Bill 2009, by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) during the Council session last week.

“When half breed Garos are not considered as Garos anymore and only ‘pure’ Garos are considered as genuine Garos (STs) the tribal population in Garo Hills will shrink to some thousands,” Marak said in a statement issued here.

He added, “Imagine the anguish people will have when they realise that they have become minorities in Garo Hills just like Tripura.”

According to him, politically most constituencies in Garo Hills will not be ST seats anymore as half breed Garos would add to the general population which will make many constituencies general.

In this connection, he said, “These seats will not be won by so called genuine indigenous Garo’s as people in general would opt for vision oriented leaders,” he said adding that when majority seats are won by the non - Garos a new bill can be introduced in the State assembly and passed in the interest of the non- indigenous Garos.

Marak said that according to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution (Para 12A) the Act passed by the State would over lap the bill passed by GHADC and that would be a worse nightmare to many.

He alleged that the Passing of the GCL bill hastily in GHADC by a handful of people have indicated that there is clearly a political agenda because once the bill becomes an Act the worse will unfold.

He observed that the people who are in favour of the bill and feel that it would safeguard their interest, must first try to see the bigger picture.

Marak further demanded that for the safety of the Garos, the Garo Customary Law (GCL) bill needs to be immediately repealed.