SHILLONG, SEP 4: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong on Monday said the government had already communicated to the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC)that it wanted the outfit’s chairman Bobby Marwein and the general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw to be present in the next round of peace talks.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said that the ball is now in the HNLC’s court and the government is waiting for them to proceed further with the ongoing peace talks.
“We are waiting for them (HNLC). We have already communicated to them. So the ball is now in their court,” he said.
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.”
“As far as HNLC talks are concerned I would like to assure them once again, I would also like to request all of them, especially their senior leaders please come forward, we are waiting for you both State and Centre for the further talks which we would like to have,” he added.
His statement also came a day after the HNLC had expressed strong protest against the summon notice issued to its general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw despite the ongoing peace talks.
The outfit has also demanded the government to consider general amnesty to all its leaders, failing which they may have to withdraw from the entire negotiations.
Tynsong however clarified that the summon notice was not issued by the government but it is just a normal process of the court.
According to him, the judiciary and the executive are already separated.
“I think you understand that but see we had a formal talk once. Both the Central and State government have requested them to please speed up as to what are the issues they wanted for discussion. We are waiting for that,” he said.
“In fact, my appeal to them to the HNLC once again be serious, come up, we are waiting for you then we will discuss. As I said to you they need not be so panicky about the warrant issued by the court or the summons issued by the court. This is a normal process as I said to you that is why we would like to process the sitting at the earliest possible then we will work out all the issues,” he added.
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 (issues related to amnesty). We also said that we want to talk to top leaders, not just the vice chairman. If they are serious, both State and Central governments are very serious and I appeal to them to communicate their decision through their linkman and our linkman. We are ready for further sitting in the days to come.”
When asked, Tynsong said, “Crime is crime. I don’t know what you mean by saying heinous. Crime is crime whether big or small… it is subjected to the law.
That is what I am saying the law will take its own course. When there is criminal activities, we have to do it and there is no way out.”
By our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours