SHILLONG, April 11: HNLC representative in the peace talks, Sadon K Blah on Tuesday said the talks have been delayed due to technicalities such as amnesty, ceasefire arrangement and rehabilitation.
“It has been a struggle for almost 40 years and therefore, the peace talks cannot be rushed. The delay in the commencement of the peace talks is due to some issues pertaining to technicalities,” Blah told reporters.
He said the technicalities are not matters to be decided only by the HNLC and the state government since the Ministry of Home Affairs is also a party in the peace process.
He said there were times when the HNLC and the state government were satisfied with some points of the technicalities of peace talks but the Centre was not convinced. The agendas of the talks will be put forward once the peace talks begin, he added.
To a query, he said the Centre and the state government are positive about the commencement of the peace talks.
Asked if HNLC “commander-in-chief”, Bobby Marwein will also take part in the peace parleys, the outfit’s representative said if the outfit’s top brass does not get involved in the process, they cannot move forward.
He said the issue of pending cases against the HNLC members can be deliberated upon once the talks begin. He said the effort is now to ensure the peace process moves forward.
The HNLC representative said the state government has already endorsed safe passage for those leaders of the outfit who are involved in the peace process. He said amnesty is a legal issue and they are talking about safe passage.
“Amnesty, ceasefire arrangement and rehabilitation are included when we look at the modalities of peace process in other parts of the Northeast. These are technicalities that we are dealing with right now,” Blah said, adding the issue of amnesty has not been taken up for a discussion at any level.
He said dropping criminal cases is a general plan within the amnesty relating to the rebel groups, whether in India or other parts of the world.
“Once the formal talks begin, then we can deal with the matter of criminal cases because amnesty is a must,” he said.
When pointed out that former HNLC general secretary Cheristerfield Thangkhiew had not availed of the government’s rehabilitation package, Blah said the slain former rebel leader had neither participated in the peace process nor surrendered but only “retired” from the organisation.
According to him, there has not been any discussion on rehabilitation package. To a query, he said the peace talks cannot be 100% conditional.
“If it is unconditional, then we don’t need to talk. There are political issues and agendas concerning the stand of the HNLC. These have been three for the last 35 to 37 years,” the HNLC representative said.
Blah disclosed that the standstill agreement and the instrument of accession are very much a part of the negotiations.
