The peace talks between the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and the State government have apparently come to a standstill as the former is yet to officially name the leaders who would represent at the next round of talks.
The talk process came to a sudden halt after HNLC vice chairman Suifyan A. Hazarika alias Manbhalang Jyrwa had resigned from the outfit on September 28. He was the main representative for the HNLC in the talks.
The underground outfit has appointed Teimiki Laloo as the new vice chairman for a period of six months.
With the talk process now in uncertainty, leaders of the HNLC who accompanied Jyrwa at the talks had all returned to Bangladesh last month. These include political secretary Aristerwell Thongni, foreign secretary Phrangkupar Diengdoh and PSOs – Rymphang Marwein, Storgy Lyngdoh, Aiborlem Marbaniang and Raymond Lapang.
However, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong had said that the government had already communicated to the HNLC that it wanted its chairman Bobby Marwein and general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw to be present in the second round of peace talks.
According to Tynsong, the government is waiting for the decision of the HNLC in order to proceed ahead with the peace talks.
The HNLC on the other hand is demanding the government’s assurance to provide amnesty to members of the outfit in order to take forward the process of peace talks.
The demand for amnesty was also raised by the HNLC during the first tripartite meeting held in presence of government appointed interlocutors Peter S. Dkhar and A K Mishra besides HNLC interlocutor Sadon K. Blah on June 24.
