AIZAWL, NOVEMBER 6 (NNN): Leaders of all Hmar tribe including the tribe's student leaders will hold a consultative meeting under the aegis of Hmar Inpui, an apex or supreme body of the Hmar tribe over the draft Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) between the Mizoram Government and Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic), who are currently engaging in a series of peace talks to find an amicable solution to the Hmar political issue. The meeting would be held at Sakawrdai, the proposed headquarters of Sinlung Hills Council (SHC) in Hmar dominated north Mizoram on Wednesday (November 8) in the presence of HPC(D) leaders. 13 leaders of Hmar Inpui from Manipur and Meghalaya led by its president Joseph Lalrothang arrived in Aizawl today for the said consultative meeting. They will leave for Sakawrdai on Tuesday. The Hmar apex body in its statement has invited representatives of all Hmar ethnic based civil society organisations, Hmar Students’ Association, all villages of the proposed SHC area and volunteers of the erstwhile Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) to attend the meeting to be held under the chairmanship of Hmar Inpui general headquarters president, Joseph Lalrothanga. Speaking to Newmai News Network in Aizawl today, Lalrothang said the meeting would deliberate and review drafts of MoS and SHC Bill. He also said that the meeting is called so in accordance with the State Government of Mizoram directive to hold consultative meetings of Hmar leaders under the aegis of Hmar Inpui over the drafts. He added that any suggestion and improvement made at the meeting over the draft MoS and SHC Bill will be tabled by HPC(D) delegates for ratification at the proposed political level talks between the State Government of Mizoram and the Hmar outfit probably to be held next month. The peace talks between the Mizoram Government and HPC (D) were revived in August last year, 3 years after it had ended in a deadlock over the extension of period of Suspension of Operation (SoO). So far, both sides had held talks on five occasions and the fifth round of peace talks was held on September 21 and 22 this year in Aizawl which ended on " a positive note". The peace talks revolved around strengthening and according more autonomy to the existing Sinlung Hills Development Council (SHDC) which would be rechristened as Sinlung Hills Council (SHC). During the fifth round of peace talks, both sides of the delegations had widely deliberated and approved in principle the draft of MoS and SHC Bill and also resolved to put up the same for final approval by the state government and the Hmar Inpui. Both sides also resolved that any rectification required in the drafts shall be deliberated and finalized at the next round of the tentative political level talks. Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana had earlier told reporters that the next round of peace talks between the Mizoram government and HPC(D) is proposed to be held within this year tentatively before Christmas.
