Incidents and Statements involving HPC-D: 2013

Date

Nature of incident

January 2

Aizawl in Mizoram

The Mizoram government is pushing for early resumption of talks with the militant group HPC-D. This development comes in the aftermath of the Election Commission's announcement to hold by-election to the Chalfilh assembly constituency on February 23. A large number of the Chalfilh electorate belonged to the Hmar community and would be highly influenced by the diktats of the HPC-D leadership.

The Mizoram Government will meet the HPC-D, ahead of the upcoming by-poll to the Chalfilh Assembly constituency. The two sides are scheduled to meet on January 31 to discuss the modalities of peace, an official source said. The first round was held in Silchar, Assam, on December 13, 2012.

After several months of suspense, the Hmar militant outfit, HPC-D and the Government of Mizoram have signed the SoO in Aizawl. An official source informed. Mizoram Government team was led by Lalbiakzama, Joint Secretary, Home department, while the HPC-D delegation was led by Lalbeisei, the outfit's vice chairman.

The two teams in their talk prepared 'ground rules and then signed an agreement for SoO for 6 months duration. The two teams also agreed to hold another talk at the earliest possible.

After signing the SoO pact with the Government of Mizoram for six months, the HPC-D, has said that at least two round of talks will be held with the Government during this six-month period. "The two parties also mutually agreed to hold at least two rounds of peace talks for a political solution during 6 months SoO period," John F Hmar disclosed.

According to the HPC-D leader, the ground rules for implementation of SoO between the Government of Mizoram and the HPC-D was signed by representatives of the Mizoram Government and the outfit at the State Guest House, Aizawl (Mizoram) after an exchange of views to initiate a peace dialogue in the common interest of finding a permanent political solutions to the Hmar political issues in Mizoram.

The President of KNO, P.S Haokip, presented his political road map to the people as well as its Suspension of Operation (SoO) partner, the UPF as the organization (KNO) which he has commanded celebrated its 26th raising day at Mata Lambulane, an outskirts village along the Tipaimukh Road. The KNO raising day celebration was attended by Calvin H from the ZRO as chief guest and Sanga Hmar from the HPC-D both members of UPF.

HPC-D, in a press statement, has said that the outfit collectively reaffirms H Zosangbera as its 'chairman'. It said, the council also collectively reaffirmed LT Hmar to continue his service as the Working Chairman of the HPC-D.

Six insurgent groups are currently active in Assam while 12 others in talks with the Central and State Government, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Rockybul Hussain said. Six groups - ULFA-ATF, NDFB-ATF/ NDFB-IKS, KPLT, KLO, MULTA and HuM-are active in the State; Hussain said replying to a question in the House.

Hussain said outfits in talks were NDFB's Progressive faction, ULFA-PTF, KLNLF, ACMA, BCF, KRA, UKDA, KLA, HPC-D, APA, AANLA and STF.

The NDFB-RD and the NSLA have declared unilateral ceasefire, Hussain said while replying on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who also holds the Home Affairs portfolio, said.

Two groups -BTF and ULFBV have already surrendered. Settlement has been reached by the central and state governments with the UPDS and the two factions of the DHD.

"However, details regarding the progress of talks with various outfits cannot be disclosed now," Hussain said. On cases faced by leaders and cadres of outfits in talks, he said, "We will not lift the cases faced by them. The cases will be dealt by the courts and judiciary. A monthly assistance of INR 3,000 is provided to each cadre belonging to groups engaged in peace talks.

Aizawl in Mizoram

The ongoing peace negotiations between the Mizoram Government and the HPC-D could not be resumed early due to abduction of five Mizos by the Bru militants on February 19, the State assembly was informed. Replying to a query, State home minister R Lalzirliana said the talks were initiated and the home department took up the parleys. "The ground rules for negotiations were placed before the two parties and deliberated in the last talks," Lalzirliana said, adding that the SoO was signed. The steps were taken to ensure early resumption of the talks.

The Joint Monitoring Group to monitor the implementation of the SoO signed between the Mizoram Government and the HPC-D would hold a meeting on April 19, officials said. The meeting would deliberate on the date and place for resumption of talks between the Mizoram government and the Hmar outfit and also discuss the observance of the bilateral SoO signed between the two parties on January 31 in Aizawl. The Mizoram Government and the HPC-D had earlier signed SoO for six months on November 11, 2010 but the proposed resumption of talks could not take off due to differences between the two sides which resulted in a massive crackdown on the Hmar outfit.

Top leaders of the outfit, H Zosangbera, Lalropuia and Lalbiaknunga were arrested by the police in 2012. All the arrested HPC-D leaders were released on bail and the talks were initiated again during the first part of 2013. The HPC-D has been demanding a separate ADC in the north eastern part of the state adjoining Manipur under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

The peace talks between the Mizoram Government and the HPC-D will resume in Aizawl on July 18. This was confirmed by a senior official of the State Home Department on July 6.

The official said there have been nine face-to-face meetings between the State Government and the HPC-D since 2010 but there has been no breakthrough yet. He said the next meeting will also discuss the extension of the suspension of operations agreement, which is due to expire July 31.

State Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain stated in the Assembly that altogether 78 persons were killed and 191 abducted by different insurgent outfits in 601 incidents, during the last two years, when 20 security personnel were also killed. The ULFA-I had killed 16 persons, including a 10-year-old girl, a four-year-old boy and girl each, while the anti-talks faction of NDFB-ATF had killed 12 civilians including a 10-year-old-boy, Hussain said.

The KPLT killed 12 persons, NSCN-IM/K killed four, Meghalaya based GNLA killed three, KLO, KRA, DNRF, HPC and Dima Halim Daogah- Jewel Garlosa (DHD-Jewel) killed one each, besides 25 by other militant formations.

A total of 135 militants were killed and 2,749 arrested during the period, he said. To another question, the minister said five underground outfits are active in Assam and they are ULFA-Liberation, NDFB, KPLT, KLO, MULTA and HUM Assam unit.

ULFA-I has urged Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to give "an honourable and decent repatriation" to its jailed 'general secretary' Anup Chetia.

A four-member delegation of HPC-D arrived in Aizawl in Mizoram from Manipur and held a close-door meeting with four other delegation members from Aizawl as the HPC-D would hold talks with representatives of the Mizoram Government on July 18 . The delegation would be led by LT Hmar, working president of the Manipur-based outfit. Sources said extension of the SoO signed on January 31 would figure in the parleys.

Talks between HPC-D and Mizoram Government was inconclusive. The joint secretary of the State Home Department, Lalbiakzama, told reporters the talks were held in a suitable atmosphere. However, the HPC-D delegation reportedly wanted to be assured of the government's sincerity before extending the SoO agreement for another six months. "Both the sides agreed that the issue of extension of the SoO would be taken up after holding consultations with the higher authorities," Lalbiakzama said.

PTC stated that they supported the July 18 talks between Government of Mizoram and HPC-D. PTC asserted that they want all the Mizo clans should share cordial relationship under the Mizo identity.

PTC stated that they supported the July 18 talks between Government of Mizoram and HPC-D. PTC asserted that they want all the Mizo clans should share cordial relationship under the Mizo identity.

The Government of Mizoram and the HPC-D, Mizoram Region will resume talks on August 14. Sources informed Newmai News Network in Aizawl that leaders of the HPC-D have arrived (August 13) in the capital Aizawl for the talks.

The stalled talks between the Mizoram Government and the Hmar insurgent outfit -HPC-D - which resumed in the State capital Aizawl on August 14 ended in a deadlock. The talks were in continuation of the July 18 talks between the two parties. The issue of SoO which was discussed during the last talks was again raised by the Government but could not be extended due to difference in opinions on the issue. The Government wanted the SoO be extended for six months while HPC-D opted for two months only. The HPC-D side was led by L.T. Hmar, 'working chairman' of the outfit.

A procession was taken out at the Mizoram-Manipur border Suangpuilawn village pressing for the signing of peace agreement between the Mizoram Government and the HPC-D militants. Resolutions adopted after the procession expressed the desire that the State Government and the HPC-D would sign an agreement to bring permanent solution to the Hmar problems. "Though the people are against balkanisation of Mizoram, we demand implementation of the Mizoram government - HPC agreement signed in 1994 which stipulated that all the areas not under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution should be included by creation of autonomous district councils," the resolutions said.

The peace talks between the state government and the HPC-D reached a deadlock last month after the two parties failed to agree on the period of extension of the SoO.

One militant belonging to the KNF-Z was lynched in Churachandpur District by the militants of the HPC-D. The HPC-D operates in Manipur, Mizoram and Assam. Police sources said that there was a standoff between the militants over the turf war and both sides had made their presence felt. While one of the militants died on the spot, two others sustained life threatening injuries.

Around 100 Bru families, out of expected 121 families, have returned to Mizoram from the North Tripura relief camps during the week-long repatriation process which commenced on September 30.

As many as 616 Brus belonging to 100 families returned to Mizoram from Naisingpara and Asapara relief camps of Tripura, SP of Mamit District bordering Tripura, Rodingliana Chawngthu told PTI over telephone. The remaining 21 families did not return due to the reported intimidation of some Bru families by anti-repatriation elements in the relief camps, he said. Chawngthu said that one family was allegedly intimidated and threatened inside the Asapara relief camp (Tripura) by some miscreants on September 29, the night before the commencement of the repatriation. The SP did not rule out the possibility of the involvement of a Bru armed militant group who were earlier allegedly supplied with arms by the Manipur-based HPC-D to intimidate some inmates of the relief camps.

A new Hmar outfit has surfaced as HPC-P which is a breakaway faction of the HPC-D. At the initial stage, Lalminthang Sonate as 'president' has taken over the command of the outfit. J C Hmar is the 'secretary'. An underground source said that a full body to head the organization will soon be constituted to give a new direction and dimension to the demand of the Hmars for a homeland of their own.

The information available says that 115 cadres taken from the region of Hmar dominated areas of east Cachar and the bordering areas of Mizoram and Manipur form the strength of the outfit. All these cadres are undergoing training in arms and ammunitions and guerilla tactics under the supervision of NSCN-IM in some undisclosed location. HPC-P, the source adds to say, has taken shape against the policy of its parent body to continue dialogue without any tangible solution to their demand. While HPC-D has been insisting on Autonomous Council for the Hmar inhabited areas, HPC-P is demanding Hmarland.

Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain on December 16 said that six militant outfits, including ULFA-I and NDFB-IKS, are active in Assam with a cadre strength of 760. Hussain answering on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, also in charge of Home, said the other outfits are KPLT, KLO, MULTA and HuM -Assam unit.The NDFB-IKS has the highest number of cadre at 300, followed by ULFA-I with 240 militants, KLO has 100, and MULTA and HUJI have 40 each, he said. Altogether 15 underground groups were on ceasefire agreement with the government and their cadres were staying in designated camps across the state, the minister said. These are ULFA (Pro talk faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa), NDFB-PTF, KLNLF, ACMA, BCF, KRA-Assam, UKDA, AANLA, STF, APA, KLO/KLO HPC-Democratic and NDFB-Ranjan Daimary. Six new extremist organisations were also formed and they are Karbi National Liberation Army, United Peoples Liberation Front, DHD-Action, Dima Jadi Naiso Army, National Liberation Front of Bengali and United Dimasa Kachari Liberation Front.