Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister-in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong on Monday said the government had already communicated to the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) that it wanted the outfit's chairman Bobby Marwein and its general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw to be present in the next round of peace talks.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said that the ball is now in the HNLC's court and the government is waiting for them to proceed further with the ongoing peace talks.
"We are waiting for them (HNLC). We have already communicated to them. So the ball is now in their court," he said.
On the second round of peace talks, Tynsong said, "That is why the government is waiting for them to reply and fix the date and we would like also in the next talks that at least the chairman or the (general) secretary should also be present during the talks."
"As far as HNLC talks are concerned I would like to assure them once again and request all of them, especially their senior leaders please come forward, we are waiting for you for the further talks which we would like to have," he added.
His statement also came a day after the HNLC had expressed strong protest against the summon notice issued to its general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw despite the ongoing peace talks.
The outfit had also demanded the government to consider general amnesty to all its leaders, failing which they may have to withdraw from the entire negotiations.
Tynsong however clarified that the summon notice was not issued by the government but it is just a normal process of the court. He said that the judiciary and the executive are already separated.
On the outfit's demand for a general amnesty, the deputy chief minister said, "In the first round of peace talks we have discussed all these (issues related to amnesty). We also said that we want to talk to top leaders, not just the vice chairman. If they are serious, both the State government and the Central government are very serious and I appeal to them to communicate their decision through their linkman and our linkman. We are ready for further sitting in the days to come."
