Aizawl Ready For Talks With Hmar Rebels

Aizawl, Apr 16 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said here yesterday that his government is ready to discuss the Hmar problems across the table.

In response to the proposals of representatives of Hmar community in northeastern parts of Mizoram bordering Manipur, Lal Thanhawla said, ''My government is ready for peace talks with the Hmar People's Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) to find long lasting solution to their problems.''

Representatives of the Hmar community, coordination committee of village councils under Sinlung Hills Development Council, met the chief minister urging him to initiate peace talks with the Manipur-based underground HPC-D to solve the Hmar insurgency problems.

The committee said the Hmar community living in the areas adjoining Manipur border have been facing extreme hardships due to insurgency for years. The state government would talk to the rebels if and only the rebels themselves come forward.

The Chief Minister reportedly said the government does not find it necessary to make the first move. HPC-D is an offshoot of the Hmar People's Convention (HPC), which came into existence in 1986, as a political party spearheading a movement for self-government in the north and northeast of Mizoram.

The HPC and the government of Mizoram signed a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) on July 27, 1994, for establishing the 'Sinlung Development Council' and subsequently, 308 HPC militants surrendered along with their arms.

Dissatisfied with the implementation process, a section of the cadres parted ways with the over ground HPC and formed the HPC-D in 1995.