By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 6: The state government announced on Wednesday that the outlawed HNLC has not been in contact recently regarding the restart of the three-way peace negotiations.
“We have not yet received anything so far,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said in response to a question about whether the group has communicated to hold the second round of talks. “Any communication they do, it will come through their interlocutor Sadon Blah,” he said.
During the initial round of three-way talks in June of this year, the HNLC had asked for amnesty. The main topic of discussion was whether the government could re-evaluate dropping the charges before the peace process proceeds.
The group recently declared that unless a framework agreement for a ceasefire is signed or all outstanding cases against its chairman and general secretary are dropped, they cannot participate in the peace negotiations.
“All of these issues can be discussed across the table when our interlocutor from the state and the Centre, along with the senior most leaders of the HNLC, sit across the table, discuss, and present recommendations to the government,” Tynsong stated.
“The door is open for discussion,” he declared, adding, “The talks would only take place with the group’s senior leaders. We’ve had one round of formal discussions and would like to come to a decision.”
