HNLC urged to return to the negotiation table
SHILLONG, Jan 5: The NPP-led MDA 2.0 government on Friday appealed to the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to return to the negotiation table while assuring the outfit that the demand for general amnesty to its members would be considered.
Insisting that the state government did not receive any official communication from the HNLC on opting out of the tripartite talks, cabinet minister and government spokesperson, Paul Lyngdoh said: “We have only seen those reports in the media. I would appeal to the HNLC not to pull out of the peace talks because a lot of ground has been covered initially and we hope good sense will prevail and we will return to the negotiation table.”
Asked if an emergent meeting is in the offing to discuss the issue, he said, “Since both the chief minister and the home minister are out of the station, I would not be in a position to say much but the government will certainly take a call on the matter and it should be happening very soon once the CM returns.”
He further said that holding the crucial meeting will be a priority once the CM and the Deputy CM in charge of the Home department are back in town.
Lyngdoh said general amnesty for the members of the HNLC – the outfit’s first and foremost demand – can be considered depending on the gravity of the cases registered.
On the cases being handled by the National Investigation Agency, he said “matters of details” should not be detrimental to any section when peace talks happen. He added that the principle of reciprocity and a give-and-take approach can go a long way in resolving the issue.
