GNLA takes offence at Garo Hills being termed ‘Terror capital’

Newmai News Network
SHILLONG, September 4

The Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in a press release today termed the report on the situation in Garo Hills in national magazine Tehelka fabricated.
The report which had termed the Garo Hills region as the new ‘Terror Capital’ of the country by two scribes Saidul Khan and Ratnadip Chaudhuri was questioned by the Garo militant outfit which claimed that they had not spoken to the Commander-in-Chief (C-In-C), Sohan D Shira but had only used material from a video.“The article ‘Nightmare in Garo Hills’ published in Tehelka (Issue 36, Volume 11), we express deep resentment in the manner in which Garo Hills has been portrayed. Written by scribes Saidul khan and one Ratnadip Chowdhuri, the article terms Garo hills a ‘terror capital’. This comes at a time when the Government is yet to declare Garo hills as a ‘disturbed area’”, said senior cadre Savio Marak in the release.
“The duo has gone to an extent of justifying Garo hills a terror capital and one stop option for calling in the army to neutralize the situation. We would like to question the knowledge of these two scribes as to how they have been able to ascertain that GNLA was running a parallel government when were still being hunted and only have anticipated talks”, asked Marak.
Stating the emphasis on violence would only lead to further misunderstandings between communities, the outfit felt that this would allow more opportunities for the government to paint militants black.
The outfit further said that they had never resorted to recruiting minors. “We never recruit minors and instead send back those coming to join their organization with an advice to go back and live a peaceful life and concentrate on education and to seek their own good future”, said Marak.
Demanding an explanation from the two scribes on when they had spoken to the C-In-C Sohan D Shira, Marak said, “The article is misleading in the sense that the C in C spoke to Tehelka over phone by saying “This is our birth right”. We want to make it clear that they took the excerpts from a video clipping only and made a story out of it. We want to ask whether Ratnadip has actually been to Garo Hills to confirm. We condemn desk journalism, which reflects a negative picture of Garo hills nationally and internationally”.
“They should not be making a business of the current crisis and should aim to work for peace at a time when everyone wants the same thing”, said the senior cadre further questioning the credentials of one Kabir Hussain, human rights activist, who they said they had never heard of. “We would like answers on who this person is who justified that Army operation is the only option for a situation in Garo Hills”.
“We strongly object to such negative articles. (They) should put into writing what is true. Appreciating the freedom of the Press, we want to make it clear that reporting should also be factually correct. The duo has no right to file made-up stories just to be in the lime light. An apology is only an afterthought as damages can be irreparable”, said Marak in the release.