SHILLONG, AUG 23: The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) said negotiations with the outfit should be renewed so as to reach an understanding and agreement to herald peace in the state.
“At this stage it may not be possible to see light at the end of the tunnel, but final agreement will establish peaceful relations between us, the centre and state government,” HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement issued on Sunday.
He said the best way to get to reach an agreement with the HNLC is through phased implementation, as every stage has its own significance toward the peace process.
The statement was made by the outfit came on the backdrop of the statement made by the union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju during his visit to the state.
Referring to the stand of the government that they should surrender, Nongtraw said, “The centre wants us to surrender on the blink of an eye. Is that justified? It can never be possible. What is the guarantee that we shall not be cheated?”
“When no formal agreement or discussion has taken place with the government then how could we believe or trust them,” he asked.
He said that the outfit was always accused of being violent whereas it had announced a unilateral ceasefire back in 2014 and adhered to the ground rules,” Nongtraw said while questioning whether there is any kind of proof or documentation to substantiate the government’s claims.
He, however, warned, “Deep down we are approaching a tipping point where perhaps we are going to have to do something on our own if this doesn’t get settled soon. Either the bloodshed shall be intensified or peace shall prevail is a matter of concern.”
According to the outfit, constructing peace is a complex process that is not completed in short time spaces or plans. Risks are needed to be taken to cement peace, Nongtraw felt.
Stating that the HNLC has been patience until now, Nongtraw said, “Yes, we want peace to prevail, but this does not indicate that we are afraid of war. We are fully capable and willing to defend all that is vital to our nation. If peace is the last option then we would give it a chance.”
Claiming that the government at the Centre has assured them that it is very serious at arriving at an honourable and acceptable solution to the conflict, he said, “We have fought for about three decades. Now, the government of India has to keep its words. We have taken the initiative and we stand by our commitment.”
Reiterating that the HNLC stands committed to the peace talks, Nongtraw said, “It is a collective decision. Ideally, we should not get back to armed movement,” adding “However, if the government of India does not deliver on its assurance, we will get back to where we started.”
He further maintained that the HNLC does not intend to hurt the peace talks when the political process of arriving to a solution has just started. “We are also concerned because any act that does not have support from the organization can have an obvious impact on the peace process,” Nongtraw added.
Nongtraw said if if the present government takes an interest in solving the issue seriously with prudence, then there is no reason why the HNLC shouldn’t respond to it positively.
Meanwhile, the HNLC has also demanded from the Meghalaya government to come out clear on the reason behind derailing the peace process for the second time in the last 28 years. “We were told by the state government that an interlocutor shall be appointed to initiate the unilateral ceasefire, but we were instead fed up with their white lies,” Nongtraw said.
Stating that the inefficiency of the Meghalaya government to appoint an interlocutor proves that they are just puppet and are unable to make decision, he said, “We were even ready for unconditional peace talks provided that the outcome shall be a political solution to our problems.”
Pointing out that the central government had initiated two rounds of talks since last year with NLFT (Tripura) and now they have decided to give up arms, the outfit questioned why the government failed to give them the same platform and questioned why this step motherly attitude towards them.
“It is high time that the GOI and the state should realize. We have joined hands with our fellow groups of the northeast and we do not care whether we are offered the peace parleys or not because we have been cheated by the Meghalaya government time and again,” Nongtraw said.
He also clarified that the outfit has raise objection to the days of national celebrations because the Khasi and Jaintia states have been forcefully coerced into the Indian subcontinent. “If matters don’t come to the negotiating table then we are ready to fight in the streets or in the market places,” he warned.
He further revealed that as per the conversation with the home minister Roshan Warjri, she had assured the outfit that she would find out a solution as we are (Para-Khasi) which shall prove to be beneficial to the community.
He, however, said it just went the opposite as instead of taking interest into their problem, chief minister Dr Mukul Sangma was rather interested to solve the problem of our Garo counterpart ANVC and ANVC (B).
He questioned as to why the double standards when the centre and state government started discussion 10 years back with the ANVC and it is in the year 2014 that they were disbanded.- By Our Reporter
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