The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has put forth its conditions for the peace talks.

Informing this, representative of the HNLC and president of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) Sadon K Blah said, “We cannot say that the talks have to be unconditional as there are conditions that we have put forward.”

“Talks cannot be hundred per cent unconditional because if it is unconditional we don’t need to talk. There are agendas like political issues and other issues concerning the stand of the HNLC which has been there for the last 35-37 years,” he added.

He said that the issue related to the Instrument of Accession (IOA) and Annexed Agreement (AA) is part of the negotiation.

Stating that the formal talks are yet to take off, Blah said, “Unofficial talks are on but formal talks on agendas are yet to take place. There are issues related to technicalities during the process and we are trying to resolve them.”

The representative of the outfit said that he cannot spell out the agendas of the HNLC as the same will be put forth only when the formal talks have started.

Blah asserted that amnesty is a must to take the peace process forward.

“Whatever criminal cases relating to these rebel groups in India and other parts of the world and in the North East also, waiving of criminal cases is an integral part within the amnesty,” he said while informing that they are yet to discuss amnesty at any level but once the formal talk is held then “we can deal with these criminal cases because the amnesty is a must”.

He further added, “Generally, if we look at the modalities of conducting this peace process in other parts of the North East, we find that amnesty must be there and some kind of ceasefire arrangement, then rehabilitation arrangement have to be there – these are the technicalities we are dealing with right now.”

Also stating that there have been no hurdles in the way of the peace process, the  HNLC representative said both the Centre and State governments are committed to starting the peace talks at the earliest.

“The government has already endorsed a safe passage for the leaders of the outfit who are part-taking in their entire process of peace,” he said.

“The former HNLC leader (L) Cheristerfield Thangkhiew has neither participated in the peace process at that point of time and secondly he was not a surrenderee, he was a retiree of the organization so it was not befitting for him also to claim for the rehabilitation as he has never surrendered and at that point of the time peace process was not in the process but it is befitting what he has done,” Blah said.

He however said that the HNLC is yet to discuss with regards to the rehabilitation package.

On the other hand, Blah said the peace talks are not an issue which decisions can be taken in haste.

“The struggle of the outfit has been there for almost 40 years and taking a hasty decision may lead to unnecessary situations,” he said while refusing to comment on the present strength of the outfit.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 13: Under the aegis of Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) a delegation of 38 youth leaders from eight countries such as Chile, Kenya, Ecuador, Mexico, Suriname, New Zealand, Nigeria visited North-Eastern Hill University with a purpose of mutual learning and interaction with NEHU faculty and students.

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The Office of International Affairs (OIA) of NEHU held the meeting cum interaction to felicitate these foreign delegates from eight different countries who are part of a mission called “NextGen Democracy” and paid a state visit to NEHU to share their experience of democratic processes and struggles in their respective countries with NEHU fraternity.

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The Vice-Chancellor presided over the programme and felicitated the visiting dignitaries. Dignitaries included Member of Parliament from Suriname, Kanafe Josafat Obed who represents African origin people in Suriname parliament and expressed his pleasure at NEHU’s hospitality and the level of discussion. Another prominent public figure included Norbert Andrew Ouma of Kenya, who is a grassroot politician shared his rich experience of being a footballer and a grassroot level party builder. Another significant voice from Chile, Maite Estay, who is the spokesperson of Chilean Confederation of Students showed her solidarity and empathy for women’s role in public life in a democracy as well as in leading the university in research and studies. Another noted political personae from City administration of Cuenca Under the provincial government of Azuay of Ecuador expressed her desire to explore Shillong and Meghalaya and found quite a few learnable things in her brief visit to NEHU. In a similar vein, Aryana Nafissi, a prominent opposition leader and tax consultant from New Zealand expressed her deep interest in India’s democratic processes and exhorted NEHU in making rapid strides in understanding global democratic scenario by way of creating leadership.

Deans of Schools such as Prof. Erwa Jyrwa, Prof. Lucy Zehol, Prof. Vanlalnghak, Prof. A.K. Chandra, Prof. N. Saha, Prof. Iftekar Hussain felicitated visiting dignitaries and exhorted them for a future collaboration and trust building. Prof. Debendra K. Nayak, seniormost Professor of NEHU felicitated dignitaries from Nigeria and Mexico and expressed his deep interest in academic and cultural bonds that exist between India and visiting dignitaries. Prof. Don Syiem too felicitated visiting Nigerain dignitary and exhorted the need for building trust and partnership.

The Vice-Chancellor of NEHU appreciated the role of Government of India under the able leadership of Narendra Modi in exposing youth to democratic processes across the globe and he expressed the hope that NEHU and Northeastern region shall be able to make the best of such cultural exchanges.

In his response, Purav Kumar Bhailal Panchal, an Indian origin Swiss citizen and educationist wanted to know about NEHU’s curriculum in Educational Sciences and sough collaboration in educational research from Govt. of India and Govt. of Switzerland. Some other foreign delegates wanted to know NEHU’s facilities on studying music and performance, to which Prof. Desmond Kharmawphlang responded positively and implored the interested foreign students to join NEHU’s programmes of study.

Prof. Prasenjit Biswas, on behalf of Office of International Affairs thanked profusely the delegates from eight countries and impressed upon them NEHU’s advantage in highest standard of research and learning at very low cost and invited students and researchers from Latin America, Africa, Europe to join NEHU in large numbers.

The visiting team left for Mawsynram and Sohra after completion of their visit to NEHU.