AIZAWL, MAY 11 : The Mizoram government has accepted the peace overtures of the Manipur-based Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) on the condition that the outfit would not indulge in any anti-government activity during the by-elections to the village councils on May 19.
Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana today said the HPC (D), through the Young Mizo Association (YMA) (Tuisual Group) and the central committee of the YMA appealed to the state government to initiate a peaceful negotiation.
“We welcome the peace initiative and agreed that any conflict can only be amicably solved only through negotiation,” he said, adding that the HPC (D) was expected not to campaign for any political party or candidate during the polling.
The last talks between the state government and the HPC (D) fizzled out in 2013 over disagreement on the extension of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) and with the Hmar outfit accusing the state government of being insincere about finding solution to the vexed Hmar imbroglio.
The HPC (D), since 1997 had been demanding a separate autonomous district council under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution by carving out the north-eastern part of the state adjoining Manipur.
The by-elections to the 31 village councils are being held as the State Election Commission could not hold elections along with the village councils in other parts of the state on April 30, 2015 due to threats from the HPC (D). Nobody filed nomination for the election.
Some top HPC (D) leaders are facing trials and languishing in the central jail near Aizawl.