Incidents and Statements involving HPC-D: 2016

Date

Nature of incident

January 3

Mizoram

Mizoram Government would not hold negotiations with Manipur-based HPC-D militants despite the outfit having expressed its willingness, Home Minister R. Lalzirliana said. Lalzirliana told PTI that the HPC-D faction led by its 'Chairman' H Zosangbera approached the State Government with peace overtures which were turned down last year. "We do not have any intention to hold negotiations during 2016 unless the militants fulfil our conditions," he said. Lalzirliana reiterated that parleys with the Hmar outfit would not take place until the militants returned all the arms taken by them.

Aizawl

Mizoram Government accepted the peace overtures of Manipur-based HPC-D 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 said the HPC-D, through the YMA (Tuisual Group) and the central committee of 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 through negotiation," he said, adding that the HPC-D was expected not to campaign for any political party or candidate during the polling.

Mizoram

The ruling MPCC advocated resumption of peace talks between the State Government and HPC-D and reaching amicable solution by this year, the 30th anniversary of the signing of the historic Mizo Accord. The MPCC office bearers' meeting chaired by Chief Minister and State PCC chief Lal Thanhawla said that bringing peace in the insurgency-hit north-eastern part of the State adjoining Manipur remained a matter of concern for the people living in the area and also for the ruling party.

Aizawl

The Mizoram Government said it will soon start peace talks with Manipur-based terror outfit HPC-D. The HPC-D has resorted to violence since 1994 to push its demand for an autonomous council in Mizoram for the Hmar tribals. "The Mizoram government would soon initiate talks with HPC-D militant outfit. However, we would not concede the demand for a separate autonomous district council," Home Minister R. Lalzirliana said in Aizawl at a conference of the Mizoram Police Service Association. The people of the state were against formation of an autonomous body on ethnic lines, the Minister said. "We have sent feelers through local leaders to the HPC-D. The formal official initiatives would also be undertaken soon," Lalzirliana said.

Earlier, negotiations between the state government and HPC-D leadership got stuck in 2013 on the issue of extension of the period of suspension of operations. Lalzirliana had earlier said that no peace talks can be initiated with HPC-D unless the outfit eschews violence. Mizoram is the first and only state in India which got INR 182.45 crore from the central government in 2000-01 as "Peace Bonus" for keeping peace after decades of insurgency. That record was shattered on March 28 last year when the HPC-D ambushed a Police party in Mizoram and killed three personnel and seriously wounded six others.

Aizawl

A resolution has been adopted by the leaders of village council, NGOs and political parties, demanding immediate commencement of peace talks between the State Government and HPC-D militants. The resolution was adopted at a function, held at Vanbawng village to celebrate the 30th anniversary of signing of the historic Mizo Peace Accord, recently.

Mizoram

Mizoram Government will soon initiate talks with the militant outfit HPC-D, State Home Minister R Lalzirliana said. "The government will soon communicate with the HPC (D) leaders so that we can begin negotiations expeditiously," Lalzirliana said. Unlike the previous parleys, the government wanted sincere talks to solve the political problems of the Hmars tribe and expected that the militants would also come forward with open arms. The talks with the HPC-D fizzled out in August 2013 over disagreement on the extension of the SoO.

The Mizoram Government will formally convey to the leadership of Manipur-based militant outfit, HPC-D its willingness to hold talks. A senior official in the State Home department said the proposal for initiating negotiations with HPC-D was already approved by CM Lal Thanhawla. The Home Department has been asked to pursue the matter. The official, however, did not say whether HPC-D's 'self-styled army chief' Lalropuia Famhoite, now incarcerated at the Central Jail near Aizawl, would be released to participate in the talks.

Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana announced that the State Government was willing to initiate talks with the Hmar outfit after people of the north eastern part of the state adjoining Manipur, who have been hit by insurgency for years, made a number of appeals to the Government to bring peace in the area. The HPC-D, formed in 1997, had been demanding a separate autonomous District council in the north eastern part of the state and indulging in violent activities to press their demands from across the Manipur border.

Peace talks between Mizoram Government and Manipur-based militant outfit HPC-D is likely to begin in August, officials said. Mizoram Government's willingness to hold parleys with HPC-D has been formally conveyed to it and received a positive response from the militant outfit, they said. "The peace talks is likely to begin in the first part of August. The place and time of the proposed negotiation would be finalised by the state home department in consultation with the militant group, while HPC-D would select and submit the names of the members of the delegation," an official said. Sources in the State Home Department said that the talks would be held at the official level at the initial stage and the State Government delegation is most likely to be headed by Additional Secretary for Home Lalbiakzama. The negotiations between the State government and HPC-D leadership had fizzled out following a deadlock on the extension of the period for SoO in August 2013.

The proposed talk between the Mizoram Government and HPC-D militants is expected to begin from the second week of August. The official said the modalities from the Government side for the forthcoming talks would be finalised on Thursday (August 11) next week in a meeting of senior Home department and Police officers chaired by State Home Minister R Lalzirliana. "We have received positive responses from the HPC (D) leaders of the State Government's peace overtures," a senior Police official said, adding the exact time and place for the talks would soon be finalised even as second week of August was proposed earlier. The negotiations between the State Government and the HPC-D outfit, led by its chairman H Zosangbera, fizzled out in August 2013 over disagreement on the extension of the SoO which resulted in the arrest of several leaders of the militant group.

Aizawl

Peace talks between the Mizoram Government and HPC-D militants will be held in Aizawl from August 10, State Home Minister R Lalzirliana said. Lalzirliana was chairing a meeting of senior Home department and Police officials to discuss the modalities for the talks. The HPC-D delegation would comprise six members while a four-member State Government delegation would be headed by additional secretary for Home Lalbiakzama, the Minister said. The negotiations between the State Government and the Hmar outfit led by its chairman H Zosangbera fizzled out in August 2013 over disagreement on extension of the SoO which resulted in the arrest of several leaders of the militant group. The fallout of the failed parleys was the ambush of a team of legislators in which three Policemen were killed on March 28 last year near Mizoram-Manipur border Zokhawthiang hamlet. HPC-D, formed soon after the Mizoram Government and the original outfit HPC signed an agreement in 1994, has been demanding a separate autonomous council by carving out the areas adjoining Manipur.

The HPC-D and the Mizoram Government are all set to resume their dialogue in Aizawl. Six HPC-D leaders, led by Lalthanliana, arrived in Aizawl, to participate in the peace talks, which will take place at Chaltlang Tourist Lodge. Led by Lalthanliana and former Hmar Inpui president Dr John Pulamte, the Hmar delegation comprises six civilians, three each from Manipur and Mizoram. Other members are the former president of the Hmar Students' Association, Lalthlamuana Hmar, Rohringa, Thanglianchhunga and Francis Songate.

The Mizoram Government has initiated peace talks with the HPC-D to find a solution of the outfit's demand for an autonomous council. Officials of the Mizoram Government and the representatives of HPC-D held talks. "We have held the first round of talks on Wednesday and the second round of talks would be held in September. We are hopeful that a positive outcome would be emerged out of the talks," Mizoram Home Department Additional Secretary Lalbiakzama said.

The second round of peace talks between the Mizoram Government and Manipur-based HPC-D will be held in September, officials said. The two sides have agreed to hold parleys in Aizawl in mid-September, but may defer the talks to third week of the month if any unavoidable circumstances come up, they said. The first round of the talks was held here on August 10 which, according to the officials, ended on an optimistic note with both the sides expressing sincerity to find amicable solution to the Hmar imbroglio. HPC-D, formed soon after the Mizoram Government and the original outfit HPC signed an agreement in 1994, has been demanding a separate autonomous district council under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution by carving out areas adjoining Manipur.

Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana asserted that the State Government would not agree even if the Manipur-based HPC-D continued to demand a separate ADC comprising areas adjoining Manipur, in the ongoing peace talks. Lalzirliana said that he wished that the current peace talks between the State Government and the HPC-D would be successful in solving the insurgency problem hitting the north eastern part of the State for years. The negotiation between the two sides was held on August 10 in Aizawl and the second round is scheduled to be held during mid-September or third week of this month when the HPC-D delegation comprising overground Hmar leaders are slated to table their political demands.

Manipur-based HPC-D peace delegation submitted their charter of demands to the Mizoram Government. HPC-D delegation leader Lalthalien said that the five-point charter of demands was sent by an e-mail.

An Aizawl based local daily newspaper reported that the much hyped second round of peace talks between the Mizoram Government and the HPC-D would be held in the first week of October in Aizawl. The report quoted HPC-D leader Lalthalien as saying that the Mizoram Government proposed to hold the parleys in the first week of October. Earlier, during the first round of talks, both sides had agreed to hold the next round of talks in mid-September. The negotiations could not be resumed as agreed due to the Government's engagement with the Bru repatriation and tight schedule of the State Government officials, the HPC-D leader added. According to report, Lalthalien said over telephone that the HPC-D wanted to resolve the imbroglio most suited to the consent of the people of the HPC-D demand area. He added that he expects something positive from the Government. The HPC-D leader also said that both sides would deliberate on making the SHDC better suited for the people of the area, "maybe even better than an autonomous district council" under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Earlier, Lalbiakzama, Additional Secretary for Home, Government of Mizoram, also said that the talk could not be held as agreed during mid-September and had to be postponed as the Government officials were engaged in some other works. He added that both sides were unprepared for talks in mid- September.

Though the next round of talks between the Government of Mizoram and HPC-D will be held on October 4, the Mizoram Government reiterated that it is not possible for the Government to concede to the demand of the Hmar outfit. During the peace talks held on August 10, 2016, the Hmar delegation had reiterated their demand for creation of a separate Autonomous District Council in the Hmar inhabited area in north Mizoram adjoining Manipur. However, Mizoram Home minister R. Lalzirliana strongly asserted that "conceding of the demand for the creation of Autonomous District Council put forth by the HPC-D is impossible."

The HPC-D has been demanding a separate Autonomous District Council in the north eastern part of Mizoram under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India and has been indulging in violent activities to press their demands from across the Manipur border. The peace talks between Mizoram Government and HPC-D was resumed on August 10, three years after a stalemate in 2013.

Representatives of the Mizoram Government and the HPC-D militants will hold the second round of peace talks in Aizawl on October 5, Additional Secretary for the state Home Department Lalbiak-zama said. Lalbiakzama said that some of the six-member HPC-D delegation led by Lalthalien was expected to arrive in Aizawl on October 3. The second round of parleys scheduled to be held in mid-September was deferred as the Government delegation members were having tight schedules due to Bru repatriation issues. The second round of talks would deliberate on demands of the Hmar outfit seeking greater autonomy and power for the SHDC. The first round of talks was held on August 10.

Aizawl

A delegation of the HPC-D arrived in Aizawl for the second round of peace talks with the State Government, a senior Home department official said. The peace talks will be held on October 5 at the Guest House in Aizawl from 10 am. Sources said the Hmar leaders, upon arrival in Aizawl, discussed "things" with HPC-D military leader Lalropuia Famhoite and other HPC-D "officials" lodged at the Central Jail in the Mizoram capital.

Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana expressed hope that the ongoing peace talks with the HPC-D would bring permanent peace in the State. Lalzirliana said that the Mizoram Government and the HPC-D delegations had worked out the framework on agreement which would again be deliberated by the HPC-D leadership. The agreement would be laid on the negotiating table when both sides would meet for the third round of talks during the third week of December. Lalzirliana said that the ongoing peace talks with the HPC-D would bring permanent peace in the State. The first round of talks was held on August 10 and the second round on October 5 and 6 in Aizawl.

Mizoram Government and Manipur-based militant outfit, HPC-D, would hold the third round of peace talks by mid-December, a State Home Department official said. The exact date would be finalised in a meeting on December 5, Additional Secretary for Home Lalbiakzama, who headed the State Government delegation in the previous rounds of meeting, said. Earlier, rounds of talks were held in cordial atmosphere with both the sides being optimistic about the outcome of the parleys. Several grounds have been covered during the previous rounds when according higher autonomy and power to the SHDC was deliberated, he said. The SHDC was established in the north eastern part of the State adjoining Manipur where a large number of Hmar community people are living in a compact area, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement between the State Government and the erstwhile underground HPC in 1994. The HPC-D was formed after the surrender of the HPC cadres to the authorities, by some leaders who were not satisfied with the terms of the agreement and continued to demand a separate autonomous district council under the Sixth schedule of the Constitution. The six-member HPC-D delegation led by Lalthalien said that the outfit dropped the demand for a separate Autonomous District Council. The first round of talks was held in Aizawl on August 10 and the second round on October 5. The peace talks in 2013 were derailed by disagreement on the period of extension of the SoO after which a spate of violence was experienced in the State resulting in the deaths of three policemen and one Hmar militant.

Aizawl District

In a goodwill gesture by the Government, HPC-D 'army chief' Lalropuia Famhoite, who had been incarcerated at the Central Jail in Aizawl District since last year, was released on bail by a local court before initiating the third round of the peace talks with the outfit.

NS

The Mizoram Government and HPC-D will hold a third round of peace talks on December 16. The HPC-D delegation, for the first time since August 10, would be led by 'working chairman' of the outfit Lalthangliana Hmar, Hmar sources said on December 13. Lalthalien, a church leader in Imphal, who had led the HPC-D delegation in the first and second rounds of talks, said that Hmar would lead the delegation this time, while 'deputy army chief' of the outfit Lalbiaknunga, earlier tipped to be included in the delegation will not be present.

NS

Mizoram Government and HPC-D held the third round of peace talks. HPC-D sources said that its delegation would be led by working 'chairman' of the outfit Lalthangliana Hmar.

Aizawl

The HPC-D surrendered arms stolen from Mizoram Police to the State Government authorities during the third round of peace talks held in Aizawl. The surrendered arms included three AK-47 Assault rifles, one INSAS rifle, three .9mm Browning pistols, one .9mm Glock pistol, 17 magazines of different arms and 74 rounds of ammunition.

NS

An official source of the Mizoram Government declared that they had signed a temporary ceasefire agreement with HPC-D to facilitate people of the Christian-dominated State to celebrate the carnival and New Year under undisturbed ambience.