Garo (ethnicity)

Flag attributed to the Garo or Achik.

Garo is the name of an ethnic group from the state of Meghalaya, India, also known as Achik.

The Achik (Garo) and Khasis-Jaintia (Hynniewtrep) of Meghalaya began their claims for a separate state in the 1980s. One of the first organizations was the Hynniewtrep Achik Liberation Council (HALC), but when it split in 1992, the two ethnic groups formed different organisations: representing the Khasis and Jaintias of Meghalaya the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), led by Julius K Dorphang; and the Achik Liberation Matgrik Army (ALMA), which was fighting for a Garoland state for the Garos.

Most of ALMA's militants surrendered in 1994 but a part reorganized and created the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) in December 1995 with the intention of creating a state called Achikland in the Garo Mountains of Meghalaya and in part of Kamrup and Goalpaa districts in Asam, where the Achik or Garo are in the majority. They are led by Dilash R. Marak and their headquarters are at Cheram in the Garo Mountains. They are allied with the Nagaland Socialist Council of Nagalim (IM), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland and the United Liberation Front of Assam, and have so far declined invitations to dialogue.

Another group from ALMA formed the People's Liberation Front of Meghalaya (PLF-M) or Achik National Council (ANC), however allied to the ANVC. The Achik flag could be the flag reported by Minahan in his book "Nations without state". A photo from a public event related to the Garos-Achik shows a banner where all three colors are used.

Finally another organization, the Garo National Council, only claims a state of Garoland in the Garo districts of Maghalaya.