Rebel outfit insists on Champion’s presence in peace talks
TURA: The banned GNLA has announced that it is willing to sit for talks with the government and prepared to declare a unilateral ceasefire but, at the same time, reiterated that an interlocutor must be appointed who would hold direct parlays with their jailed chairman Champion R Sangma.
Breaking its silence on the peace talks, the publicity secretary of the banned outfit Gantong Ch Marak announced his group’s willingness to sit for dialogue.
He, however, raised a question as to who would mediate between them and the government.
“There cannot be talks without interlocutor appointed by the government. Question is who is going to mediate between the GNLA and Govt?” GNLA publicity secretary asked and added that talks would have to take place only with their chairman, Champion R Sangma alias Pakchara, who is currently lodged in Shillong jail.
Our reporter adds: Meanwhile, the state government has asked both GNLA and HNLC to abjure violence if they are serious about holding peace talks.
Reacting to reports on the appointment of interlocutors for HNLC and also on sending feelers to GNLA, the state government in a statement on Thursday said that it was open for dialogue with the proscribed organizations and other militant groups provided they “abjure the path of violence, desist from anti-national (activities such as calling of bandhs on national days of importance and stop all criminal activities such as extortions, kidnappings, killing of innocent civilians, and others”.
According to the government, these pre-conditions are necessary to ensure positive participation in any peace process by the state and central Governments and create an atmosphere which would be conducive for appointment of interlocutors.
“Needless to say, the appointment of interlocutors to facilitate the peace process will be a natural corollary to the above conditions in the overall interest of maintaining peace and tranquility in the State”, the government said.
