Mizoram-Hmar People's Convention-Democrats Talks Run Into deadlock

Aizawl, Mar 24 : The ongoing peace negotiations between Mizoram government and the Manipur-based Hmar People's Convention-Democrats (HPC-D) militants have run into deadlock as the former cannot agree with inclusion of ''foreigners'' in the second rounds slated for May.

Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla informed the Mizoram Assembly House today that the peace process had run into a deadlock as the underground group insisted on sending ''foreigners'' as its representatives, which was ''not acceptable'' to the Mizoram government.

''We will inform the state government's stand on this to the Union government soon,'' he said.
The Chief Minister said this in his wind-up speech on the Governor’s speech which said that peace was maintained in Mizoram.

The House took up the address for discussion before passing a motion of thanks on the second day of the budget session. The motion was passed after a hot discussion.

Sources in the state home department also stated that the HPC-D delegates seemed to have misunderstood the point agreed in the last dialogue held that the militant group could appoint other people to participate in the coming negotiations.

However, the state government could not agree to include foreigners in the HPC-D delegation as proposed by the militant group, the sources said, adding the Hmar outfit wanted a US citizen to participate in the next round of talks.