Peace talks with HNLC
SHILLONG: The former negotiator of peace talks with HNLC Rev PBM Basaiawmoit has denied that he was threatened by the former Chief Minister DD Lapang to derail the peace process.
In reaction to the statement of HNLC in this regard, Basaiawmoit said on Thursday, “as per report in the media, HNLC is ready to hold talks with the Government without any pre-condition and this is very much appreciated as it is a big come down from its earlier stand. However, to state that former Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang had threatened me and hence, the talks could not be held then between the State Government and the HNLC, at that time, is giving a contrasting colour to the whole issue”.
According to Basaiawmoit, a letter dated 16-1-2005 signed by all three top leaders of HNLC, the then chairman Julius Dorphang who is now a legislator, General Secretary Cheristerfield Thangkhiew and Commander in Chief Bobby Marwein and addressed to the Prime Minister, was conveyed by him to the then Union Minister of State, S. Raghupathy at his chamber in North Block, New Delhi on February 8 2005.
Basaiawmoit said that he received a letter from one A. K Goyal, the then Director, NE Division, Ministry of home Affairs, which said that ” It has been the policy of the Government of India to talk to any militant group which agrees to abjure the path
of violence and seek peaceful resolution of their demands within the framework of the Constitution of India. In such negotiations, the concerned State Governments are also associated.”
However, since the HNLC had addressed its letter offering talks to then Prime Minister, the outfit’s response was that the letter should have come from either the Prime Minister or PMO or even from Home Minister. Instead,” a mere Director of a Division replied and accordingly, I wrote my reply to Goyal on 4.4.2005 by saying that we are awaiting response from those to whom the letter was addressed to or maybe, the Minister of State for Home, whom I met on February 8 can respond”.
Ironically, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs S. Raghupathy, made a statement in the Rajya Sabha that the Centre has signed a ceasefire agreement with the HNLC and ” on February9, 2006, I wrote a letter to the concerned Minister on the faux pas. Yet, response did not come or even at least, acknowledged”.
Basiawmoit said that it was in the same month that he got a call from then Chairman of HNLC, requesting him to approach Meghalaya Chief Minister DD Lapang for necessary intervention and engagement.
“Accordingly, I telephoned the Chief Minister about the request which came from HNLC and then, a meeting was scheduled at CM’s residence around 8.00 P.M on February 20,2006 also attended by the then Home Minister, HDR Lyngdoh.
Subsequently, a special mention about Basaiawmoit was made during the budget session of the Meghalaya Assembly by Lapang appreciating the former’s role.
“In this context, I categorically state that I was never threatened by Lapang or any minister for that matter on the issue of talks between Government- both Union and State- and HNLC. We might have different political ideologies but we respect each other”, Basaiawmoit asserted.
According to the pastor, they were let down by those holding helms at the Union level and he still feels embarrassed as he was approached by Centre’s intelligence personnel in December, 2004 to make contact with leadership of HNLC on whether they would agree to hold talks and ceasefire.
” I also reiterate that had the Centre been sincere then, we would have a different story to tell today”, Basaiawmoit said, adding that only Dorphang came over ground and now he is the MLA of Mawhati constituency.
He, however, wished the new efforts to holds talks a success and urged all concerned and stakeholders to be sincere in their approach to achieve peace and progress.