HNLC alleges UAPA Tribunal’s decision expose govt’s pol agenda

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 23, 2025

The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Sunday said the recent decision by the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal to prevent the outfit’s legal counsel Fernando Shangpliang from filing a show cause on behalf of the organization exposes the blatant political agenda of the Indian government and its proxy regime in Meghalaya.

In a statement, HNLC general secretary-cum-publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said that the HNLC, in its rightful and democratic approach, has sought to challenge its illegal designation as an “unlawful organization.”

“However, despite adhering to legal norms, the very system that claims to uphold justice is being weaponized to silence our struggle. The tribunal’s refusal to accept our legal counsel’s representation is nothing short of a deliberate attempt to deny Hynniewtrep its rightful voice in a so-called democracy. There is no justice for us as long as we remain under the Indian flag,” he said.

“This tribunal’s actions constitute a flagrant violation of the “due process of law” as enshrined in the Indian judicial system. It brazenly tramples upon the universally accepted principles of Natural Justice, reducing the proceedings to a mockery of fairness akin to medieval kangaroo courts where verdicts are predetermined, and justice is but an illusion. Such a ruthless perversion of legal principles exposes the tribunal as nothing more than a political weapon wielded to crush any resistance against India’s ongoing occupation of Hynniewtrep,” Nongtraw added.

Stating that both the Union government and the state government of Meghalaya have already submitted their affidavits, the HNLC leader said, “Yet, when the HNLC attempts to respond legally, roadblocks are placed in its way. This move exposes the hypocrisy of the Indian state, which preaches democracy but acts like a colonial oppressor. It proves once again that the government’s only intent is to maintain its illegal grip over Hynniewtrep, rather than engage in a fair judicial process.”

“Despite these political manipulations, the HNLC remains committed to challenging the fabricated accusations against it. The Tribunal’s proceedings in Guwahati on April 9 will be a critical moment in exposing the lies and baseless allegations of the Indian establishment. The fight is far from over. We will not be silenced. The Hynniewtrep struggle for sovereignty and self-determination cannot be crushed by legal theatrics and bureaucratic oppression. We call upon all Hynniewtrepians to recognize the political betrayal and the use of political lawfare to suppress our rights. The Indian system is built to deny us justice, but our resolve is unbreakable. We will not bow, we will not surrender, our resistance is our path to liberation,” he concluded.