SHILLONG:
Interlocutor for the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), Sadon K. Blah, on April 11, said that the peace negotiation between the proscribed outfit and the Central and State Governments is currently in an informal stage due to the recently concluded Meghalaya Legislative Assembly elections.
Blah, who is also the president of the Hynñiewtrep National Youth Federation, stated that all three parties hoped to end the negotiation on a peaceful note, adding that previous negotiations had been successful.
“Unofficial talks are on, but formal talks on agendas are yet to take place. There are issues related to technicalities during the process and we are trying to resolve them,” said Blah.
Even though the official talks were agreed to be without preconditions and within the “ambit of the Indian Constitution”, Blah, however, said the HNLC has pushed for one condition and that is – the Instrument of Accession and the Annexed Agreement.
Blah also said that to date the peace process is going in a positive direction and there are no obstacles to disrupt its progress.
When asked why the formal peace talks have not started, and where agendas may be discussed, Blah said there are many technicalities in the process.
“Because this is not only the job of the state government or the HNLC but also of the Union Home Ministry. Sometimes when the state and the HNLC think that things are okay the central government would want it to happen differently,” he added.
Blah also said that both the state and the central governments are committed to and serious about resolving the issue.
On cases against the HNLC leaders, he said that deliberations and negotiations will take place only once the talks begin and that the current focus is on taking the initial process forward.
Pointing out the modalities of conducting the peace process, Blah said amnesty is a precondition, along with a ceasefire arrangement and rehabilitation for members.“The government has already endorsed safe passage for the leaders of the outfit who are taking part in the entire process of peace,” he added.
He also said that the HNLC would want to discuss political agendas and other issues concerning the long-standing ideological positions of the proscribed group.
“So basically we cannot say that the talks have to be unconditional. There are conditions that we have put forward,” Blah said.
To another query, Blah said Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, the former leader of the group who was killed in an encounter at his home in August 2021, had neither participated in the peace process at that point in time nor was he a surrendered militant. In fact, Blah noted, “he was a retiree of the organisation, so it was not befitting for him also to claim rehabilitation as he had never surrendered and at that point of the time peace process was also not on,” but it is befitting what he has done.”