Shillong, June 24: The first tripartite meeting to discuss peace talks with the HNLC has suggested the need to collect names of cadres whose criminal cases are pending, including those under National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The meeting held at Umiam MeECL guest house on Saturday also discussed suspension of operations and amnesty ahead of signing the peace pact.
The vice president of the HNLC, Manbhalang Jyrwa said on phone that the organisation will collect names of cadres who have criminal cases and names of those who are still lodged in jail.
Besides the demand to withdraw pending cases against the cadres, the HNLC leadership also wanted the government to withdraw the cases under NIA against three leaders of HNLC.
On November 30, 2022 the special judge (NIA), Shillong had issued notices to HNLC leaders Bobby Marwein, Marius Rynjah and Sainkupar Nongtraw in connection with the IED blast in 2020 in East Jaintia Hills.
‘The government has assured us that the case under NIA will not hamper the peace talks as the NIA matter is just a legal procedure”, Jyrwa said.
AK Mishra, Advisor, MHA (North East) represented the Centre in the peace talks and the HNLC was represented by a seven member- delegation.
The state was represented by Peter Dkhar.
The HNLC’s emissary and HNYF president Sadon K Blah told reporters that the discussion was on the need to open the door for the peace process to move forward and to do this, the government should consider granting amnesty by dropping all criminal charges against the HNLC leaders and cadres.
He said the outfit is seeking amnesty on cases registered against its leaders and cadres by both Centre and State governments.
Blah said the representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the State pointed out that it will be a matter of weeks for the government to decide on amnesty.
“They have assured us that the matter will be considered in a matter of weeks and it will be communicated to us so that we can pursue the issues concerned. The response was positive and encouraging. They assured that the government will try to solve this matter as soon as possible,” he said.
The government also some suggestions and proposals.
“Today itself, we will be having a meeting to discuss on the proposals we got from the government and we will decide how soon the meeting can be held and we will communicate to them and they will also communicate to us”, he said.
The HNLC is yet to place its political agenda during the meeting.
“This is because we are waiting for the door to open first before we proceed with the political agenda as the political agenda is not a matter to be solved in a day or two. When I say the door to have further communication on the political agenda is that both the governments must consider waiving of these criminal charges and dropping of cases in whatever manner they can manage to do it so that we can proceed forward”, Blah said.
The next meeting is likely to be held next week.
