SHILLONG: In a bid to reignite the flickering flames of peace, Meghalaya’s Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong issued yet another heartfelt plea to the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), urging them to rekindle the stalled peace talks with the government.
“The door is still open. Think again. Please be mature and think about the future,” Tynsong appealed to the outfit on February 13, imploring them to reconsider their stance and return to the negotiation table.
The HNLC’s withdrawal from the tripartite peace talks in January had cast a shadow of uncertainty over the prospects of reconciliation.
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Citing the government’s alleged failure to address their core demands, the outfit took the drastic decision, underscoring the urgency of their grievances.
In a missive addressed to the Centre’s interlocutor AK Mishra, Advisor (MHA, Northeast), the banned outfit lamented the lack of progress in resolving key issues during the peace negotiations, pointing to the government’s perceived lack of seriousness in addressing their concerns.
However, amidst the impasse, rays of hope emerged as cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh hinted at a possible breakthrough, suggesting that the outfit’s demand for amnesty for its leaders “would be granted”.
This statement offered a glimmer of optimism, hinting at a potential thaw in the frosty relations.
ALSO READ HNLC pulls out from Peace Talks, cites unaddressed core demands as reason
Further bolstering the prospects of dialogue, Health Minister Amapreen Lyngdoh, in January, had indicated that Tynsong’s return to office would bring clarity to the issues affecting the talks, offering a ray of hope for reconciliation.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) echoed the sentiments of conciliation, appealing to the HNLC to reconsider its decision to withdraw from the peace talks.
MPCC Chief and Lok Sabha MP Vincent Pala underscored the far-reaching implications of such decisions on the state’s economy, livelihoods, and overall well-being, urging the outfit to prioritize dialogue over discord.
As Meghalaya grapples with the delicate balance between peace and strife, the resumption of peace talks holds the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
