The State government has reiterated its stand that the top leaders of the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) should be present at the next rounds of the tripartite peace talks.
“Right now the talks have started only once and that also with the second rank leadership. We have requested that in the second and the third meeting, the top ranking people should be there to talk and whatever issues you have sit down across the table and then we will come out to any kind of solution,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said today.
He was replying to queries by media persons regarding the demand for amnesty by the HNLC in order to carry forward the talks.
“From the State and the central government we are very firm and determined to continue the talks with the HNLC and we are still waiting for the communication from their side. Since their top leaders still could not participate in the last meeting, we have sent back the members of the HNLC with a request to let us know when they are ready,” Tynsong added.
He said, “The State government and the central government are open and we are waiting for the next talk.”
During its first tripartite talks with the Centre and the State government which began at Umiam in June this year, the HNLC had pressed for amnesty to all its members. The outfit also pointed to the various criminal cases slapped against its members and leaders by police at several courts.
