Govt to take a call on peace talks with HNLC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 21, 2019

SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday said the state government will take a call on the demand of the proscribe Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to appoint an interlocutor for facilitating peace talks.

“This will be discussed and we will take a call,” Tynsong told reporters here while reacting to a statement issued the HNLC.

The HNLC while rejecting the idea of ‘surrendering’ had also demanded the state government to consult with various stakeholders as to why should the outfit not given a chance for peace talks.

Stating that it does not have any faith either in the Congress government nor the present government, the outfit also stated that if the government is really serious then it should appoint an interlocutor.

On the offer former general secretary of the HNLC Cheristerfield Thangkhiew to be the mediator between the outfit and the government, Tynsong however said, “That is his (Thangkhiew) personal opinion. But we will discuss and whatever decision taken we will let you know.”

Meanwhile, the deputy chief minister has also appealed to the outfit to follow the footsteps of Thangkhiew and come forward to join the mainstream.

Thangkhiew, who claimed of retiring from the outfit, had surrendered before Tynsong at the police headquarter in Shillong on October 18, last year.

Meanwhile, the HNLC had also announced its decision to adopt a “massacre policy” where non-tribals present in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region will be made its soft target.