HNLC not to shun violence till Govt appoints interlocutor for peace talks

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 18, 2021

The banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Sunday said it is not ready to shun violence till the government appoint an interlocutor for facilitating peace talks.

“…we will not give up violence until the government comes up with something concrete . We are not ready to shun violence until and unless an interlocutor is appointed,” HNLC general secretary-cum-publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement. 

This came as a reaction to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s appeal to the outfit for shunning the path of violence following the IED explosion at the Khliehriat police reserve in East Jaintia Hills district. 

“As long as there is no official communication we shall keep spearheading our movement and  without fail,” Nongtraw said while adding “Show us practically that you are serious and we shall stop proving our abilities to destroy anything practically.”

He informed that the outfit had time and again sent various  letters addressed to the state government the central government including the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

“Deliberate discussions were held within the council’s leaders to facilitate peace talks. The council has documented each and every letter for future reference, in case we are told that we did not want peace and that we should shun the path of violence,” Nongtraw said.

The HNLC leader further stated that it is a child’s play for the Chief Minister to just appear into the media fraternity and issue any kind of statements adding “But at the same time it should be implemented in letter and spirit.” 

Stating that from the year 2004 it has already been 17 years but nothing concrete has been achieved in the formulation of peace talks, he said, “Lately we feel that peace talks just appear good in newspapers . But the reality is that it doesn’t exist in the dictionary of the government.” 

“Right now talking about maintaining peace and harmony is just useless from the orators mouth. If you can have oratory skills then we have bomb making skills. You destroy the society by your lies whereas we plan actions to destroy the liars,” he said while stating that this is not a time to put blame upon each other but a time to re-introspect.