Meghalaya govt urges HNLC not to walk out of peace talks

Shillong, Jan 5  The Meghalaya government has urged the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) militant outfit not to walk out of the tripartite peace talks with the center and the state.
Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh said the state government has not received any official communication from the outfit, but based on the reports emerging in the media, the state government is taking proactive steps so that the talks are not derailed.
“It (amnesty) can be considered, depending on the nature of each of the registered cases against their leaders. I believe it should be and would be considered,” he said.
Lyngdoh also informed that, despite no official communication from HNLC, the government is “seriously” considering the amnesty demand and will soon call for a meeting to arrive at a decision.
“A lot of ground has been covered (in regards to the peace talks), and now is not the time to pull out of it. We would have a meeting with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, once they are back in the state,” he said.
The HNLC has announced through the media its decision not to be part of the tripartite talks with the center and state government due to the non-fulfillment of some of its core demands.
In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Home Affairs through the central government’s interlocutor, A.K.Mishra, the chairman-cum-commander-in-chief of HNLC, Boby Marwein, and general secretary and publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw announced that the militant outfit
is withdrawing from the tripartite peace talks due to its “general demands” not being met.
“If the fundamental issues remain unaddressed, our political demands would also be dismissed,” the HNLC leaders said.
After the peace process got rolling, the state government wanted some of its top leaders to sit across the negotiating table.
The peace process with the outfit has barely begun, and the Meghalaya government has insisted that its top leaders come forward and sit across the negotiating table.
The HNLC, however, wants a general amnesty provided to its top leaders and other members of the outfit, which the government has not agreed to. Both sides have remained stuck on this, which has derailed the talks.
“We seek the withdrawal of all pending cases against our “leaders and cadres in both lower and higher courts throughout the state, with special attention to cases in Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills. Resolving these cases will contribute to a more conducive environment for dialogue,” Nongtraw said.
However, Lyngdoh said that some of the core demands of the outfit are being seriously considered by the government, and walking out of the peace process is not the way forward for the welfare of the state.