The process for peace talks with the banned HNLC is gaining momentum.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is leaving for Delhi tomorrow to meet with officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs to brief them about the offear for peace talks by the HNLC.
“I will be meeting the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) tomorrow and I will be briefing them about the developments taking place and discuss with them on how to take this forward,” Sangma told media persons here today.
“Once we formally communicate and get a signal from MHA, Government of India, we will take the next step forward,” he added.
On the appointment of an interlocutor to initiate the peace talks, Sangma said that the State government has already shortlisted the names and one of them would be finalised for appointment as an interlocutor.
It may be recalled that on February 8, the HNLC announced its readiness to hold unconditional peace talks with the government and within the ambit of the Constitution of India.
HNLC general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw also asked the government to speed up appointment of an interlocutor to facilitate the peace dialogue.
Softening its stand, the HNLC has dropped its demands on the Standstill Agreement and Instrument of Accession and that these two issues shall not be part of the peace talks.
“As of now we are ready to talk within the ambit of the Constitution of India and we are ready to have talks without any preconditions. This is for the general information that the Standstill Agreement (SA) and Instrument of Accession (IOA) shall not be included. If the Government of India is willing then we are ready for a dialogue,” Nongtraw said.
Nongtraw also asked the government to immediately appoint an interlocutor to show its seriousness to end the three-decade old conflict.
“Our aim is to end this conflict and at this point of time we believe that we can achieve whatever we want through peaceful means provided the sincerity of the government. After decades of confrontation and suffering we the HNLC decided to have a dialogue with the Government of Meghalaya and the Government of India as we in the view of acknowledgement that a peaceful solution shall be achieved leaving aside all bitterness. We want to regain the respect of the Hynñiewtrep existence,” Nongtraw said.
“While it is long overdue we believe that opening and sustaining the space for a dialogue and consensus building will lead to the peaceful resolution of the age-old conflict that has been going on for the last three decades,” he added.
“Now the ball is in the government’s court to decide whether it wants to give peace a chance or to continue this conflict. Hence the appointment of an interlocutor at the earliest, before this conflict turns ugly is the only solution,” the HNLC leader said.
