Consultative meet on Hmar political issue held
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Churachandpur, January 17 2013:
A consultative meeting on the Hmar political issues in three states Assam, Manipur and Mizoram which started on Wednesday, concluded today at VET, Muolhlum, Rengkai (Churachandpur, south Manipur).
The event organised by Hmar People's Convention Democratic (HPC-D) was attended by various representatives of civil society organisations, village authorities and village chiefs of the Hmar tribals.
Sources said yesterday, it was a consultative meeting between the HPC-D and the Hmar social organisations while today's was more on the HPC-D leaders review meet on political dialogue that is yet to be held with the government.
HPC-D Chairman LT Hmar informed that as invited by the Mizoram government, the HPC(D) and Mizoram government representatives held a meeting to formulate peace talks across the table in December last year.
He further said that there will be another meeting this month for further a peace talk process.
SIPHRO chairman David Buhril, who was part of the HPC(D) delegation that is in negotiation with the Assam government over the Hmar demands in Assam, said that, the HPC-D (Assam Region) signed a Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Assam government last year and 4-5 meetings has already been held with the Assam government.
He further added that another round of talks will be held in February.
United Peoples Front (UPF) convenor Sanga Hmar speaking on the occasion informed that a number of tripartite preliminary talks between the UPF, Central government and Manipur government had been held, and the Home Ministry has accepted the proposal to initiate a political talks on the UPF demands.
However, as the proposed interlocutor has not been cleared by the Prime Minister no political talks could be started yet.
The representives who attended the consultative meeting endorsed a three-point declaration that there should be a political talks between the HPC(D) and the Mizoram government to settle the Hmar political issues in Mizoram; endorsed the HPC-D's demand for a Hmar Autonomous District Council in Assam, and supports the ongoing tripartite talks between the UPF, Manipur government and Central government.
The meeting also urged for more consultative meetings on Hmar issues in the future.