Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has said that leaders of the Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) should come to the table for talks and not to panic over court summons.
His statement was after the outfit’s general secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw had condemned the court summon and said such action could hamper the tripartite peace talks.
“It is not the government who issued the notice. This is the normal process of the court. Judiciary and executive are separated. We had formal talks just once and in fact the central and state governments are waiting for them to communicate with us,” Tynsong told reporters today.
“We are waiting for them…We have already communicated to them. So the ball is now in their court,” he said, adding, “They need not be so panicky about the warrant issued by the court or the summons. This is a normal process…”
Tynsong also said that the government would like to see the HNLC chairman, Bobby Marwein and Nongtraw in the next round of talks.
Asked as to when likely the second round of peace talks with take place, Tynsong said, “That is why the government is waiting for them to reply and fix (the date) and we would like also in the next talk that at least the chairman or the (general) secretary should also be present during the talks.”
On the outfit’s demand for general amnesty, the deputy chief minister said, “In the first round of peace talks we have discussed all these. We also said that we want to talk to top leaders not just the vice chairman. If they are serious, both State and Central government are very serious and I appeal to them to communicate their decision through their linkman and our linkman. We are ready for the sitting in the days to come.”
Asked whether the state government will follow up heinous crimes and absolve normal crimes, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “Crime is crime. I don’t know what you mean by saying heinous. Crime is crime whether big or small… and it is subjected to the law.”
