VPP slams govt on peace talks pullout

SHILLONG, Jan 5: The Opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Friday criticised the Meghalaya government for failing to pursue the peace process with the banned HNLC, unlike its counterparts in the Northeast.
The party referred to the peace accords signed with insurgent groups by other state governments in the region.
“If the government of India and various state governments, including that of Meghalaya, can enter into peace agreements with insurgent groups in the Northeast, why can such peace talks not be pursued with the HNLC?” VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh asked while alluding to the HNLC’s decision to withdraw from the tripartite talks citing the government’s lack of seriousness.
“It seems there is no commitment on the part of the state government to bring to an end to political differences that the HNLC has with the Indian state,” he said.
Stating that Meghalaya needs peace for overall development, he said:
“It is unfortunate that the HNLC decided to pull out of the peace talks with the Centre and the state government.” The failure of the talks would be a lost opportunity to ensure lasting peace in the state, he added.
The HNLC on Wednesday announced its decision to withdraw from the peace talks, stating that the demand for general amnesty to its cadres was not met.
In a letter to the Centre’s interlocutor AK Mishra, the HNLC’s self-styled chairman and commander-in-chief Bobby Marwein said, “We deeply regret to inform you that we are reluctantly withdrawing ourselves from the peace talks with your government. This decision has been made due to the unfortunate circumstance that our general demands have not been met.”
The HNLC’s general secretary cum publicity secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw said the decision was in response to the government’s lack of seriousness in addressing the core demands of the group.
The Leader of the Opposition, Ronnie V Lyngdoh said one cannot be rigid during negotiation and if the HNLC and the state and central government are serious about the peace talks, they should accommodate each other.
“When you negotiate, there has to be give and take,” he said.