Outfit slams govt for notice to leader to appear before court
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 3: The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has slammed the state government for issuing a notice of summons to its general secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw asking him to appear before a court and threatened that it will pull out of the peace negotiations if such attitude continues.
The outfit demanded that the charges against its leaders be dropped and a general amnesty is offered to them to ensure the success of the peace process.
“Without these essential steps, our key leader(s) will not actively participate in the ongoing negotiations. While we have authorized the vice chairman and their delegation to represent us in talks, the lack of seriousness displayed by the government is becoming increasingly evident. If this attitude persists, we will be left with no option but to withdraw from the negotiations entirely,” the HNLC warned in a statement issued on Sunday.
The notice of summons issued by East Khasi Hills Judicial Magistrate First Class, KE Rymbai, said Nongtraw “has committed or is suspected to have committed the offence under section 120B and 121 IPC read with section 25 (i-b) of Arms Act…”
He was charged in a case at Sohra Police Station, the details of which were not divulged by police, and asked to appear before the court in question on September 20, 2023 at 10:30 am. The police had pasted the court order outside his residence at Sohra.
The development comes at a time when the outfit’s peace talks with the government have reached an advanced stage.
The HNLC said such actions not only undermine its trust in the government but also have the potential to hinder and disrupt the efforts towards achieving a lasting resolution.
The outfit said it remains committed to the peace process and has actively engaged in negotiations with the state government.
“However, we are deeply concerned about the double standard exhibited by the government. The state government demanded my attendance at a meeting with a strict deadline of September 30, while the MHA, on the other hand, specifically targets all senior leaders of HNLC to appear in person,” Nongtraw said.
The statement said the HNLC leaders and cadres will not come out openly unless and until the political demands of the outfit are met with. The outfit urged the government to hold talks with the delegation authorised by the HNLC central executive committee and led by the vice chairman.
“Practically, none of the peace accords in Northeast India has materialized, except for the Mizo Accord. Even the instrument of accession, which your government forced upon our nation 76 years ago, has not been implemented in letter and spirit. Additionally, the standstill agreement signed between the Indian government and Federation of Khasi States was violated. Given these circumstances, can you expect us to trust your government repeatedly?” the outfit asked.
“If your government demonstrates a willingness to meet our political demand, which is similar to the Indian government’s public stance on the division of Jammu and Kashmir, then we would consider placing our trust in your administration,” the HNLC said.
“On August 5, 2019, the Indian parliament announced the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir. After 86 days, on the midnight of October 31, 2019, Kashmir was officially bifurcated. If your government shows the same determination in dividing Meghalaya and declaring Hynniewtrep as a separate and equal state with a specific timeline, just as they did with Kashmir, then we would be more inclined to trust your governance. In such a scenario, we would not require any financial assistance or what you refer to as ‘rehabilitation packages’ for the HNLC,” the statement said.
The HNLC criticised the government for repeatedly singling out its leaders “through posted notices.”
“Nonetheless, we want to make it clear that we do not fear oppressive laws or even death, and we will persist in our fight without compromising our principles. Fear has never been a part of our policy, and our political armed struggle holds a significant place in the history of our movement,” the statement said.
It mentioned the ban imposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on the Islamic Research Foundation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) of 1967.
“This ban comes in stark contrast to the claims made by Zakir Naik, alleging that Indian government officials met with him and offered safe passage while withdrawing all his cases. It is worth mentioning that Zakir Naik has faced bans from multiple countries. In contrast, only the Indian government has banned HNLC, with the UAPA falling under the jurisdiction of the MHA,” the statement said.
“This raises a crucial question: If the Modi government can extend such courtesy to Zakir Naik, why is the same courtesy not offered to the leaders and members of HNLC, who are actively involved in a peace process with the government itself?” the HNLC asked.
The outfit said it remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving lasting peace and political solution and hoped that the government will reassess its actions and work collaboratively towards a mutually agreeable solution.