HM assures to take up issue of peace talks with HNLC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 5, 2021

Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said he would find out the reason behind the delay for peace talks with the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).  

“As per their statement, the process (for peace talks) had started since 2004…I will find out why the talks have taken 17 years and what are the challenges being faced…,” Rymbui told reporters on Tuesday.

“I will conduct a follow up as I want peace to prevail in the state. Therefore, I will try my best to take this opportunity to see where this will lead us and what is the way forward,” he also added.

The home minister however asked the HNLC to understand since the home (police) department is yet to know about any talks being held between the outfit and the government.

Stating that hurdles can be resolved through dialogue, he said, “Whatever maybe they (HNLC) are our own people and if there are any issues, we have to resolve them because everything is possible through dialogue although it may take time. Whatever is within the constitution we will try to resolve but those outside the constitution, I cannot say anything.”  

In its statement issued on December 24 last year, the HNLC had threatened to target family members of Tynsong and Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui if the government continues to arrest ‘innocent youths’.

The outfit had alleged that many innocent youths have been arrested by the police department just because they were not able to arrest its cadres.

Reacting to this, the home minister said, “I don’t know on what ground they are issuing this threat and for what but all I know is that I am the son of Meghalaya and that I have nowhere to hide. My village is Nongtalang and I live in Shillong. Others may have a place to hide but me and my children, we are born and brought up here and this is our land, so I will live here and I will continue to do so. We have the right to live and this is our land. If I have done anything wrong or you do anything wrong, the law will take its own course.”

Rymbui however maintained that police cannot arrest anybody without any reason. “We have human rights bodies and civil society organizations who are keeping a close watch against any violation (of human rights),” he said.

He also added that people can always file complaints on human rights violation by the police.