GUWAHATI, Feb 3 ? Dima Haleng Daogah (DHD) president Joel Garalosa has warned that no one should be under illusion that the outfit has signed the ceasefire pact with the Government of India (GOI) security forces out of its ?weakness?. Inaugurating the truce-time office of the ?People?s Supreme Council of Dimaraji? at Haflong yesterday, the DHD president stated that outfit would not hesitate to go back to arms if it found that the peace efforts with the Government of India was not going to deliver in the interests of Dimasa people.
Delivering his address in presence of the civil officials of NC Hills, Army and police officials, the DHD president stated Dimasa tribe should be allowed to have a ?Dimaraji? (a separate Dimasa State) to decide their future by themselves. ?We will not allow others to decide the fate of Dimasa tribe which resisted the British invaders valiently to protect their erstwhile Dimasa kingdom from being conquered on several occasions during early 19th century,? he said while remembering heroics of a few Dimasa rulers and army guards. Garalosa observed that the history was the proof that Dimasa were a ruling dynasty in southern Assam and hill districts of Karbi Anglong and NC Hills. He, therefore, demanded grant of a separate State to Dimasas per the ?Articles 2 and 3 of Indian Constitution?.
Addressing the function, the Deputy Commissioner of NC Hills, SI Hussain stressed the need to maintain peace in the interest of development the backward hill district. He said it was the mutual trust that held the key to solution of all problems. Terming the present ceasefire between DHD and Government of India security force as an interim phase, the DC said that it had provided with a golden opportunity to solve the problems through peaceful means. He called upon all the parties involved to adhere to the ceasefire ground rules in letter and spirit. ?If we break the ground rules, the peace will be endangered,? he said.