Shillong, Jan 15: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday appealed to the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to return to the negotiating table to resolve issues that will ensure lasting peace in the state.

Speaking to the media, Sangma stated that the government is fully open to peace talks with the outfit.

“We invite the organisation to engage in talks and we are happy to facilitate the entire process again, as we did last time,” he said, referring to the first round of peace talks held in 2023.

He explained that progress stalled after the outfit decided to pull out of the peace talks in January last year.

Emphasising the need to overcome challenges, Sangma said, “If we truly want to move forward, we must overcome these obstacles. The only way to do that is through dialogue and discussion to find solutions. We urge that, while challenges and hurdles are natural in difficult discussions, they should not deter us. In fact, they should strengthen our resolve to ensure lasting peace and address all concerns. Wherever there are concerns on their side, we need to sit down and discuss them within the constitutional framework, in consultation with the MHA and the state government. We should move forward.”

“That is our appeal. We want to send a message that we are ready to discuss and invite them to the table. The best way to resolve concerns is through dialogue,” he added.

On the HNLC’s demand for general amnesty, the CM said, “This issue has been discussed many times. From the Government of India’s perspective, they have mentioned that it cannot be announced right now, due to existing cases, laws, and rules. However, we are working on a way forward.”

“We are saying, let’s discuss this issue. There are certain heinous crimes, and laws are in place for us as a state government. We cannot simply grant amnesty; it must be discussed at the Government of India level. But to discuss this, we must first sit down. You cannot ask us for general amnesty before we even begin the discussion,” he stated.

Stating that the government has assured safe passage to the outfit, Sangma said, “Once we begin the discussion, these issues will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. However, we cannot set conditions before the discussion begins, as it is not possible.”

He assured that the government would do its best to discuss the matter with the Government of India, adding, “However, I cannot make commitments on behalf of the Government of India, as the MHA is a central government ministry, and it must be handled at that level.”

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