GNLA offers talks with govt

Jailed chairman of the banned Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants in Meghalaya, Champion R Sangma, has expressed desire for dialogue with the Government to end bloodshed in the militant-hit Garo Hills region in the state.
"We are ready for peace and want the Government to consider this as it will ensure lasting peace in the Garo Hills region," Sangma told PTI while being produced in a local court here today.
He said the constitution of the GNLA does not provide that the group brokers peace with the Government of India and with the state government without him being part of the process.

The statement of the chairman assumes significance in the wake of the GNLA self-styled 'commander-in-chief' Sohan D Shira statement expressing the outfit's willingness to hold peace talks, provided the government released its arrested chairman.
"The GNLA wanted peace not because it was afraid of further military action against it but because of the sentiments of the people of the Garo Hills," Political Affairs Secretary Bikdot N Marak said.
A home department official however said the government was yet to receive any written document from the outfit, while in a response to Governor Dr K K Paul's invite to the outfit to seriously consider 'the offer of dialogue', the GNLA leadership has appointed 'brokers' to talk to the government.

The outfit has appointed two prominent church leaders from Garo Hills - a senior catholic priest and a priest of the Garo Baptist Church - besides a lawyer to broker dialogue for peace on their behalf.
Advocate Sujit Dey, the chairman's lawyer is likely to be member of the 'brokers' besides few other prominent persons from the Garo Hills region and a journalist.