Talks with HNLC delayed due to Manipur situation

SHILLONG, June 6: The state government on Tuesday said the ongoing peace talks with the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has hit a roadblock due to the conflict in Manipur. The process is being delayed since the Centre, particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs, is directing all its attention to Manipur to restore peace in the state.
“We have some complications because of the Manipur situation. You are aware that the MHA is quite busy with the developments taking place in Manipur and it has made things slightly more complicated,” Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said on Tuesday.
Last month the chief minister had announced that the tripartite talks involving the Centre, state and the HNLC will formally begin in the first week of June.
Informing that the state government is in touch with the MHA, he said the central government is serious about initiating the peace process and we should be starting soon once the situation in Manipur improves.
“I hope we should be able to move things forward very soon,” he added.
Earlier, HNLC’s interlocutor for peace talks, Sadon K. Blah said that the peace talks cannot be rushed since it has been a struggle for almost 40 years.
“The delay in starting the peace talks is due to some issues regarding the technicalities,” Blah said.
Meanwhile, talking about the joint interstate border visit with his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma, the CM said, “We will do it towards the end of June. It is not inspection as such but the two chief ministers will visit certain areas where tension is there and the idea is to build the confidence of the people there and also to send a positive message to the people that we are serious about finding a solution to the vexed problem.”