Abjure violence for talks, Government to militants

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Feb 11: Talking tough to the rebels, Meghalaya Government today said that the Government would hold talks with the militant outfits of the State, only if they abjure violence and anti- tiol activities.

“Government is open for dialogue with the proscribed organisations and other militant groups provided they abjure the path of violence, desist from anti-tiol activities such as calling of bandhs on tiol days of importance and stop all crimil activities such as extortions, kidppings and killing of innocent civilians,” stated a statement issued by the state government.  

These pre-conditions are necessary to ensure positive participation in any peace process by the State and Central Governments and create an atmosphere which would be conducive for appointment of interlocutor(s), stated the release.

The official communiqué reiterated that the State Government is keen to hold dialogue with any militant group, including GNLA and HNLC, provided they come forward with sincerity of intention and willingness to firmly renounce such anti-tiol and anti-social acts.

It may be mentioned that the two proscribed outfits have been issuing statement with ‘a hard to get attitude’.

The GNLA is estimated to have a 170-180 cadres while the HNLC has around 40 cadres.