Sangma asks insurgents not to have link with political parties

Meghalaya government today asked all banned, insurgent and terrorist organisations operating in the state to refrain from having any link with political parties and said it would hold peace talks with a Khasi rebel outfit in accordance with provisions of the law.
"I urge all banned, insurgent and terrorist outfits not to indulge in any kind of activities which can be linked as engaging themselves in politics," Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told reporters after a cabinet meeting here.
He said, "I also urge them not to allow themselves to be used by political parties or in other words to completely avoid any possibility of developing any connection with politicians or their party."

The government wants to send a clear message to all of the insurgent groups in the wake of its efforts to bring long lasting peace in the state, the chief minister said.
Recently, the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has expressed its willingness to come under a bilateral ceasefire agreement. The outfit has also served an ultimatum to the government for appointment of an interlocutor within 24 days.
Asked about this issue, the chief minister said, "The government will do it in sync with provisions of the law. It will explore all the possibilities including appointment of an interlocutor."

There were certain formalities and the government wanted to do it correctly in a manner that everything was clear and transparent, he said.

"We want that misguided youths who are engaged in war against the government and our people should take advantage of the opportunity given by the government to come over ground," Sangma reiterated.
On the alleged failure of peace talks with HNLC in 2004, Sangma said, "I will not like to dwell on what happened in the past and it is not proper for me to say what had happened then."
On the ultimatum served by the outfit, he said whether it takes 20 or 30 days was a different issue but the objective was more important here.