SHILLONG: The Centre lost an opportunity in 2005 to enter into ceasefire with HNLC due to its delay in holding talks with the militant outfit.
The banned HNLC is trying to revive the outfit with reports indicating that more youths were joining the banned group, which otherwise should have been prevented, if the Centre had inked the peace pact then.
Rev. PBM Basaiawmoit, who is contesting from Shillong Lok Sabha seat, was instrumental in taking initiative to bring the HNLC to the negotiating table in 2005.
However, the delay on the part of Union Home Ministry and the Prime Minister to communicate the decision after the offer was made to them by HNLC through Basaiawmoit, has resulted in the dialogue process becoming standstill.
When asked during a news conference on Saturday if he was willing to play the role of a negotiator once again, Basaiawmoit said he was willing to turn facilitator should such a situation ever arise. According to Rev. Basaiawmoit, three top leaders of the HNLC including the present Independent legislator from Mawhati, Julius Dorphang (former chairman of the rebel group) were ready to hold talks with the Centre. The others included self styled commander in chief of HNLC Bobby Marwein and general secretary Cheristerfield Thangkhiew.
Rev. Basaiawmoit had also visited Delhi in the early part of 2005 to hand over a letter of the HNLC leaders to the Union Home Ministry as the militant leaders were reluctant to hold talks with the State Government.
The church leader said that HNLC wanted the Centre to initiate peace talks in a neutral country and desired that a formal intimation in this regard should come either from the Prime Minister or from the Union Home Minister.
However, there was response to the talks only from a Director-level official in the Union Home Ministry and not others, which was disliked by HNLC.
Rev. Basaiawmoit informed that as part of the process, he had also held meetings with the then Chief Minister DD Lapang and Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh in 2005.
He said that there was no communication from the Centre regarding the peace talks for a very long time resulting in stalemate as far as the dialogue for a peaceful settlement was concerned.