Shillong, May 29: The HNLC’s lack of response to the government’s repeated appeal for resumption of the peace talks has led to extension of the ban on the proscribed outfit by another five years, MDA government spokesman and cabinet minister Paul Lyngdoh said on Thursday.
“The HNLC (Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council) has not ‘responded favourably’ to government’s repeated appeal for resumption of the peace talks,” Lyngdoh said.
Asserting that the government is “open to the idea of talking”, he said, “In fact, talking to the proscribed outfit would be one step ahead of the ban on the organisation being lifted, but since they have not responded favourably, hence, the ban continues.”
“The appeal is still open,” he added.
The UAPA tribunal recently decided to uphold the Ministry of Home Affairs’ decision to declare the HNLC for another five years as an unlawful organisation.
