Aizawl, June 12 (NNN): The Hmar People\u2019s Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) rebel leadership has \u201ccondemned\u201d the arrest of its top leaders\u2013\u2019army chief\u2019 Lalropui and \u2018deputy army chief\u2019 Bieknung by the Mizoram police at Silchar Airport on June 10.
\nIn 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.
\n\u201cThe 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,\u201d the rebel outfit said in a statement.
\nThe rebels also claimed that chief minister Lal Thanhawla had made a \u201cpromise\u201d to the delegates that \u201d there would be no hurdles from the the government side.\u201d
\nThe rebels said the action of the Mizoram government of arresting its leaders was \u201cimmature\u201d and terms it as a \u201ccowardly act\u201d.
\n\u201cIt is now clear that Congress government does not want peace,\u201d the statement added.
\nUrging the people \u201cnot to panic\u201d over the developments, the Hmar rebels said, \u201cHmars 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.\u201d
\n\u201cIt is time for injustice and discrimination to end\u2026 Those who have planned such action will not be forgiven even by God,\u201d the HPC-D stressed aptly in a reference to Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana.
\nClaiming that there are \u201cmore brave people\u201d to carry on the movement that has spanned over two decades, the HPC-D said, \u201cThe 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\u2019ll be more careful,\u201d the press note said.
\nIt may be mentioned that the HPC-D has signed a Suspension of Operation (SoO) both in Assam and Manipur. The rebel outfit said the \u201carrest was illegal\u201d and \u201cwe\u2019ll take a decision on people who has no regard for the violators.\u201d \u201cHow can we expect a government that does not respect the rule of law to be truthful,\u201d HPC-D asked.
\nThe Hmar rebels said the outfit now led by Zosangbera will continue in the talks initiated with the Centre.
\nExpressing their happiness over the \u201ccontinued support\u201d from the public, the HPC-D said efforts were on to get the arrested leaders released \u201cas soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n