Tura, March 31: A new group - All A'chik Citizen's Forum - was formed today to raise objection on the codification of the Garo Customary Law Bill, 2009, which was passed by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) on Wednesday.

The formation of the new group was taken at an emergent meeting called by the Mothers' Union, which was attended by several civil organisations, including senior citizens of Garo hills.

The forum has demanded repeal of the bill and a referendum.

Amid anger and fear over the law, which has raised a debate, many have expressed their reservation on the bill.

North Eastern Hill University English department assistant professor Ramona Sangma posed several questions to the council regarding the bill, including status of a non-Garo child adopted by Garo parents, children born out of wedlock, whose father is unknown or undeclared, among others.

"How can a handful of 'representatives' claim to represent the will of an entire society without consensus, especially in matters of identity?" she asked. Ramona said Garos are primarily socio-religious in practice and the true preservers of Garo culture are the Songsarek (Garos who follow animistic religion, not converted to Christianity) living in clusters in remote villages.

"If preservation of culture is what propelled the council into passing this bill, how about working towards empowering them, maybe through reservation in education institutions, better job opportunities, alternative livelihoods, rather than using them as mere exhibits for cultural festivals?" Ramona asked.

She pointed out that check and balance in society already exist as far as customs and tradition of the Garos are concerned.

"Cultures are preserved not through exclusion based on percentages of genealogical purity but through communion and mutual participation," she said.

"When the mahari (clan members) agrees to participate and support a marriage between a Garo and a non-Garo, doesn't it automatically symbolise acceptance?"

Commenting on the bill, advocate Pakhi Momin said, "The codified customary law seems to be nothing but outcome of spite and resentment of certain sections of society".

Heidi Momin, who is married to a non-Garo and lives in South Carolina, told this correspondent, "Keep this bill and 50 years from now, there might be only a handful of 'pure Garos' left."

Heidi said many like her who are married to non-Garos have been trying to instill Garo culture in their families and making their partners and children imbibe and absorb Garo culture but such a law will push them completely to the other side.

Many have ridiculed the bill saying if the council is talking about protecting Garo culture, they should ask people to stop embracing Western dresses and lifestyles.