SHILLONG: The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has decided to pull out of the ongoing tripartite peace talks involving the Centre, state government, and the proscribed outfit.
The primary reason cited for this withdrawal is the alleged non-fulfilment of core demands presented by the organisation.
The banned outfit conveyed its decision in a letter addressed to Centre’s interlocutor AK Mishra, Advisor (MHA, Northeast).
Expressing regret over the inability to reach a consensus during the peace negotiations, the outfit highlighted the government’s purported lack of seriousness in addressing their core demands.
“This decision has been made in response to the government’s lack of seriousness in addressing our core demands. These demands were originally submitted to the Central government by (L) Cheristerfied Thangkhiew in 2021. Despite our efforts to reiterate and emphasise our demands through our intermediary, Sadon Blah, the government has shown a complete lack of attention towards our demands,” the local press quoted the letter.
During the first tripartite talks in June, the HNLC had sought amnesty and later indicated that further discussions hinged on the government’s reconsideration of dropping charges.
The outfit specifically mentioned that its chairman and general secretary would not engage in peace talks unless pending cases against them were withdrawn or a framework agreement for a ceasefire was established.
In response to this stance, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had reassured the outfit leaders in November 2023, stating the commitment of both the Centre and the state government to facilitate safe peace talks.
Tynsong had urged the HNLC not to doubt the government’s “sincerity” and even offered to hold discussions outside Meghalaya if the outfit felt insecure within the state.
