HNLC wants dialogue on political issue

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, January 7: The proscribed HNLC today has reacted to Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma’s statement that his government was willing to hold peace talks with any militant outfit which was ready to come over ground but there would be no discussion on the ideologies of those groups.

“Without any dialogue, simply surrendering will again take us 10 years back,” the HNLC publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said.

Nongtraw stated that political solution can be achieved only through a political dialogue.

The HNLC publicity secretary said that the outfit’s main agenda to come forward for peace talks was to achieve a political solution to the problems.

Our main objective is to contribute towards the development of the Hynniewtrep and to give back to our society in return. So here we do not see that the solution is the demobilization and disarmament of the HNLC. The HNLC said that the formula of peace talks will fail because the essence of the conflicts in the Hynniewtrep was political and social which gave rise to the outfit. “We have to go to the cause that gave rise to this and seek solutions. Only then will we go to the heart of the matter to make changes and overcome the problems,” Nongtraw said.