SHILLONG, March 1: Home Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui on Tuesday asked the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to stop activities, including extortion, as the process for peace talks has already begun.
He was reacting to reports that businessmen and others are still receiving demand notes from the banned insurgent group.
“There is no report with me right now but the police are alive to the situation. I hope the group will realise that when the process of talk is on, all these activities should stop,” Rymbui said.
On the appointment of the interlocutor, he said the state government has written to the Home Ministry giving probable names but it has not yet received any communication.
“As you are aware, the Chief Minister (Conrad K Sangma) will go (to Delhi) and attend a meeting on the border issue with the Home Minister (Amit Shah), he will also raise this issue so that it can be taken up at the earliest,” Rymbui added.
Sangma will meet Shah on March 9 for final settlement in six of the 12 areas of Meghalaya’s border disputes with Assam.
Rymbui refused to disclose the names suggested by the government for appointment as the interlocutor on the grounds that the matter is with the central government. He said the names will be disclosed at an appropriate time.
He said the names suggested are thought to be acceptable to the state as well as the Centre. On whether there could be a ceasefire with the HNLC, Rymbui said, “Let the process finish and after that, we will see what is to be done. We want this first step to move as soon as possible. After it is completed, we will see what is to be done.”
“Once we have appointed the interlocutor, the HNLC can directly contact the appointed person and the nitty-gritty of the talks will be known. Now, it is premature to say anything,” he added.