HPC-D clears air of confusion
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Aizawl, August 18 2013:
The Hmar Peoples Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) while clearing the air of confusion and misconception in Mizoram, has said today that the Hmar outfit did not disagree for the extension of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the government of Mizoram.
HPC-D spokesman Lalmuanpuia Punte today expressed his regret that there have been wrong speculations doing the round in Mizoram that the Hmar militant outfit refused to extend the SoO term which had expired on July 31 .
"On August 14, the leaders of HPC-D and the representatives of the government of Mizoram held talks in Aizawl where both the parties had agreed for the extension of the SoO term but differences cropped up on the duration of the SoO term," said HPC-D spokesman Lalmuanpuia Punte while adding," It is unfortunate that the talks had ended in a deadlock.
The stalled talks between the Mizoram government and the Hmar insurgent outfit - Hmar Peoples Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) which resumed here in the state capital Aizawl today, ended in a deadlock.
"However, we are hopeful that something good may come out soon and we have full faith in Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla who had sacrificed his chief ministership in 1986 for the sake of the Mizo Accord" .
Meanwhile, sources said that the Mizoram government wanted that the SoO term should be extended for the period of six months while the HPC-D wanted only for two months.
It can be noted here that on August 14, the talks was held in continuation of the July 18 talks between the two parties.
The issue of Suspension of Operation (SoO) which was discussed during the last talks was again raised by the government but could not be extended due to difference in opinions on the duration of the SoO term.
The Mizoram Government was represented by Secretary to the Government of Mizoram B.Lalhmingthanga, while the HPC(D) side was led by L.T.Hmar, Working Chairman of the outfit.
As reported earlier, on July 18, both the parties had a political talk at the same venue, during which the issue of further extension of SoO was raised by government and the HPC(D) firmly maintained its stand that any further extension of SoO should be intricately linked with fixation of a definite timeframe for a political dialogue within July, 2013 .
On being asked whether there will be further talks, Joseph R Hmar, delegate of HPC(D) said that there is no discussion regarding for further talks but added that even without the extension of SoO, talks can still be had anytime.
The main agenda discussed today was granting Sinlung Hills Autonomous District Council (SHADC) within the Sixth Schedule under Article 244 (2) of the Constitution of India so as to to preserve, protect and promote distinct culture, custom, dialect, and socio-economic and political identity of the Hmar people in the State; to install and activate legally defined, structure and responsible political system/institution that will address the political aspirations of the Hmar people; to prevent the exploitation of the land and resource of not only the Hmar tribals but the whole state of Mizoram by central government and MNC and financial institutions in the name of Dams and Development; to instill a sense of belongingness to the Hmar peoples and make them contribute towards the better progress and development and to secure fundamental rights and consitutional promises.
"Since 1986, the Hmar People's Convention (HPC) has been demanding for the creation of Hmar Autonomous District in Mizoram.
In spite of the Peace Accord that was inked between the Government of Mizoram and the HPC in 1994, there was no concrete solution to address and redress the rights of the Hmar people," the HPC(D) stated in a statement earlier.
As a result, the HPC(D) has been pressing for the same demand to redress the "historical and political injustices".
Acknowledging the matter, the Centre (Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India) has also been putting pressure on the Government of Mizoram to settle the political issues of the Hmars immediately.
It was in the light of these circumstances that the Government of Mizoram and the HPC(D) signed the Suspension of Operation (SoO) on November 11, 2010 for a period of six months.
HPC(D) has three regions, viz, Manipur, Assam and Mizoram with different technical objectives but politically the same, which is safeguarding the rights of the Hmar community who are divided by the boundaries of these neigbouring states.
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