Shillong, Mar 1: Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Tuesday informed that the state government has already sent a list of names to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to be appointed for the job of the interlocutor in order to facilitate peace talks with the banned Khasi militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC). However, they are yet to receive a response from the MHA on the matter.
“We have written to the MHA and we have given the names (for appointment of an interlocutor). However, we are yet to get any response from the MHA,” Rymbui told reporters.
He also informed that the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma will also take up the issue during his meeting with the MHA on the border agreement between Assam and Meghalaya on March 9.
Refusing to disclose the names shortlisted for the purpose, Rymbui said that since the matter is with the central government, the names will be disclosed at an appropriate time. “We have sent the names which we thought will be acceptable to both the central government and the state government,” he said.
When asked if there will be ceasefire with the HNLC, the Home Minister said that the nitty-gritty of the matter will be taken up once the appointment of an interlocutor is completed.
“We want this first step to be moved as fast as possible from the government be completed then only we will do all nitty-gritty afterwards,” he said while adding “once we have appointed then the HNLC can directly contact with this person whoever maybe appointed then the nitty-gritty of that talk will be known after that.”
The Home Minister maintained that it is too premature to say anything before the appointment of the person concerned.
On the alleged demand notes served by the HNLC to many businessmen, the home minister said, “There is no report with me right now but the police is alive to the situation and to deal (with) all eventualities. Having said, we from the government we are serious and I hope that the group will realise that when the process of talk is on, all these illegal activities should stop.”
