SHILLONG: The State Government has decided to examine the condition put forward by the GNLA to release its chairman Champion R Sangma to facilitate peace dialogue.
“We would examine the demand of the GNLA to release their chairman,” Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma said on Tuesday.
He, however, said that it was necessary to examine the current situation before the Government takes a call on the GNLA’s willingness to sit for talks, albeit with a rider.
The banned GNLA has welcomed Meghalaya Governor Dr. KK Paul’s offer of peace talks but maintained that it can happen only if their chairman Champion R Sangma is released from prison and leads the group in the deliberations.
“If the Governor is committed let our Chairman breaks the ice. Release him immediately and translate your highness’ offer into reality,” stated GNLA commander-in-chief Sohan D Shira in a statement released on Monday.
Sohan’s statement comes in the backdrop of this year’s Republic Day speech by the Governor, wherein he had appealed to militant groups particularly the GNLA to come forward for talks and shun the path of violence.
Police sources say that Sohan D Shira and Champion R Sangma are now opting for dialogue because they fear operations against them. GNLA was formed in November 2009 by Shira and Champion, a discharged Deputy SP in the Meghalaya Police.
Mentionably, on January 6, after a cabinet meeting Dr. Sangma had urged all militant outfits in Garo Hills to come forward for talks, which he stressed would be held under the ambit of the peace pact with the ANVC.

KSU leader joins HNLC

SHILLONG: In a surprising move, KSU vice president Fredrick Kharmawphlang has quit the students’ body and joined the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
In a letter jointly addressed to KSU president Daniel Khyriem and general secretary Auguster Jyrwa on Tuesday, Kharmawphlang urged the two leaders  to remove his name as member of the students’ body saying that he has joined the HNLC.
Though the reasons behind the development was unclear, the KSU vice president was apparently unhappy over the decision of the NGOs to accept the proposal of the Government to study the 52 existing laws to tackle the problem of influx and inflow of illegal immigrants into the State.