Will not bow to Garo rebels’ demands: Minister

Shillong, Sep 19 (IANS) The Meghalaya government will not bow down to the 300-hour shutdown call of the rebel Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) demanding withdrawal of central forces involved in combing operations in the three Garo Hills districts, Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh said Friday.
‘We will not bow down to such kind of pressure tactics of the GNLA. The central forces will continue to stay in Garo Hills and carry on with the combing operations till the GNLA activities are neutralized,’ Lyngdoh told IANS.
Terming the GNLA’s shutdown as a ‘pressure tactic’, he urged the people to cooperate with the government in its effort to neutralise the GNLA.
‘As I have said, we will not succumb to their pressure, instead they should surrender or else the government has no other option but to further intensify the combing operation to maintain law and order,’ he said.
GNLA leader Kakam D. Shira Thursday announced a 13 day dawn-to-dusk shutdown starting from Sep 28 to Oct 14 everyday barring Saturday and Sunday.
‘The bandh (shutdown) is to put pressure on the government to withdraw all central forces and to put on hold the combing operations against us,’ Shira said.
The 13-day shutdown is likely to affect the Durga Puja celebrations in western part of the State.
Asked if the government would invite GNLA for a dialogue, Lyngdoh said: ‘The government is always ready for a peaceful dialogue, but it is up to them to decide.’
The GNLA, one of the five Garo rebel groups, is fighting for a sovereign Garoland. It has forged an operational alliance with the United Liberation Front of Asom and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland.