Aizawl, June 12 (NNN): The Hmar People’s Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) rebel leadership has “condemned” the arrest of its top leaders–’army chief’ Lalropui and ‘deputy army chief’ Bieknung by the Mizoram police at Silchar Airport on June 10.
In a press communique issued in Aizawl today, the Hmar rebel outfit which is demanding an autonomous district council covering Hmar inhabited areas in Mizoram, said that the two HPC-D leaders were on their way to meet the ‘all party delegation’ (political parties) at an undisclosed location in the Barak Valley, Assam.
“The all party delegation from Mizoram has been working to find a truce between the HPC(D) and Mizoram government and two weeks earlier with authorisation from the Mizoram chief minister it was agreed that face to face meetings should be held. The all part delegation was also told by the chief minister to find a way to end the impasse with the Young Mizo Association ( YMA ). As such, the all party delegation said that just speaking over the phone was not enough and that there should be a face to face meeting which was approved by the chief minister,” the rebel outfit said in a statement.
The rebels also claimed that chief minister Lal Thanhawla had made a “promise” to the delegates that ” there would be no hurdles from the the government side.”
The rebels said the action of the Mizoram government of arresting its leaders was “immature” and terms it as a “cowardly act”.
“It is now clear that Congress government does not want peace,” the statement added.
Urging the people “not to panic” over the developments, the Hmar rebels said, “Hmars have been at the receiving end for over two decades and and we will continue to endure such treatment, but one day the salvation of the tribe will come.”
“It is time for injustice and discrimination to end… Those who have planned such action will not be forgiven even by God,” the HPC-D stressed aptly in a reference to Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana.
Claiming that there are “more brave people” to carry on the movement that has spanned over two decades, the HPC-D said, “The arrest of our leaders will not weaken us. This action on the part of Mizoram government is a sign that they should never be trusted in the future and we’ll be more careful,” the press note said.
It may be mentioned that the HPC-D has signed a Suspension of Operation (SoO) both in Assam and Manipur. The rebel outfit said the “arrest was illegal” and “we’ll take a decision on people who has no regard for the violators.” “How can we expect a government that does not respect the rule of law to be truthful,” HPC-D asked.
The Hmar rebels said the outfit now led by Zosangbera will continue in the talks initiated with the Centre.
Expressing their happiness over the “continued support” from the public, the HPC-D said efforts were on to get the arrested leaders released “as soon as possible.”
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/hpcd-condemns-arrest/
