, prior to the Naga leaders entering India for formal talks in 2002, the Nagaland government withdrew all cases against them.){kind=link}
SHILLONG:
The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), on September 4, reiterated its demand for the government to withdraw all cases against its leaders which is similar to what the Nagaland government did for the NSCN (IM) in 2002.
In a statement, HNLC general secretary-cum-publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said, “The government should not deceive or mislead the HNLC. We expect the government to first withdraw the cases, similar to what the Nagaland government did in 2002. If the government of Nagaland could do it, then why is the Meghalaya government hesitant to follow suit?”
Terming the deputy chief minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong’s statement as ‘political nonsense’, Nongtraw said, “In the statement made by Tynsong regarding the court’s notice summoning me as the general secretary, it is clear that his words are simply political nonsense. The question that arises is: Who holds the authority to make the final appointments to the judges of the Supreme Court and High Court? Typically, the power to grant amnesty to any banned organisation lies within the executive branch of the government.”
Further, he said that in most countries, it is the head of state or head of government, such as the president or prime minister, who possesses the authority to pardon or grant amnesty.
On the other hand, the judiciary’s role primarily revolves around interpreting and applying the law, rather than granting amnesty.
Nongtraw said to provide an example related to the NSCN (IM), prior to the Naga leaders entering India for formal talks in 2002, the Nagaland government withdrew all cases against them. In light of historical instances, who has had the power to grant general amnesty to the Mizo National Front?
“If Tynsong was questioned about heinous crimes, his response contradicts the statements made by the CM, MHA officials, and AK Mishra, the interlocutor. Tynsong’s assertion that ‘crime is a crime’ conflicts with the notion that there may be distinctions in the seriousness or circumstances of various crimes,” he added.
Alleging there is a pre-planned trap against the outfit’s leader, Nongtraw said, “If Tynsong argues that the court process is merely a normal procedure, does this imply that if the Chairman or General Secretary receives an arrest warrant, the government is unable to intervene due to the separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary? If the government is indeed unable to take any action, it appears to be a pre-planned trap.”