Govt will be held responsible for any fall out in arresting our leaders: HPC(D)

Aizawl (mizonews.net): The Hmar Peoples’ Convention (D) rebels who are fighting for an autonomous district council in Mizoram has appointed their PRO, L.T. Hmar, as the outfit’s new chairman-in-charge. This comes after their ‘Chairman’ H.Zosangbera was arrested by the Mizoram Police at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on July 17.

In a major setback to the rebel group, three of their top leaders including its ‘army chief’ Lalropuia Hmar and his deputy Biaknunga Hmar were arrested at Silchar Airport on June 10. All the three are still lodged in Aizawl jail.

Announcing the appointment in the a press statement, the insurgent group said: “In the larger interest of securing the goals of the peoples’ movement, the HPC(D), in its recently concluded Emergency Executive Council appointed Shri L.T. Hmar to be the Chairman in-charge of the HPC(D).”

Condemning the Government of Mizoram for arresting its leaders, the HPC(D) said that Zosangbera went to New Delhi “to meet officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India to intimate about the urgent need for political solution of the Hmars in Mizoram.”

“HPC(D) Army Chief Lalropui and the Deputy Chief of Army, Lalbieknung were also arrested by the Mizoram Armed Police (MAP) from Silchar Airport (Assam) when they were on their way to visit the HPC(D) Designated Camp and attend a peace meeting with the leaders of the All Parties Leaders (Mizoram). The Chief Minister of Mizoram was aware about the peace meet and has given a nod to the All Party Leaders (Mizoram),” the outfit said while accusing the Congress government of “breaking the trust and confidence that has been slowly building up after the first term of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) between the HPC(D) and the Government of Mizoram (November 11, 2010 – May 11, 2011)”.

” The Mizoram Armed Police (MAP) and the Government of Mizoram blatantly trespass with the arrest as the HPC(D) has Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Government of Assam,” the statement quoted HPC(D) ‘secretary’ Amos P. Hmar as saying.

The rebels also said that they “will continue to work until we achieve our goals”. “We appeal to all right thinking citizens to take note of the treacherous policy of the Government of Mizoram towards the Hmar people,” they said adding, “the Hmar people or the HPC(D) shall not be responsible for any outcome bred by the decades of treacherous, segregationist and suppressive and oppressive actions of the Government of Mizoram.”

“We remain committed to our rightful struggle and aspirations; we shall continue the good fight under all circumstances until we achieve our goals. In order to realize the great future, we shall sacrifice everything that is required of us,” the rebels statement added to condemn the “coward act” of the Government of Mizoram.

Accusing the Lal Thanhawl government of not being sincere in peace process the Hmar rebels who are now fighting for over two decades to achieve their “rights” under Constitution of India, the HPC(D) said it “is convinced that the Government of Mizoram is in no way interested in securing peace and democracy in Mizoram. The HPC(D) shall not be a silent spectator.”

The HPC(D) also lambasted the government for what it called ordering an “un-democratic Flag March” in Sinlung Hills, their demand areas in North East Mizoram.

“The attempt to ‘segregate’ the Hmar peoples by the Home Department, Government of Mizoram, with its order (No. D. 32020/24/2010-HMS) is a shame. It will forever stand as the biggest insult to Mizoram’s peace and democracy,” the rebels said as they asked the government to “immediately end segregationist” policies against the Hmar people.

“The decades of suppression and discrimination by the Government of Mizoram in collusion with Mizoram based NGO has resulted in giving no place and space for Hmar language, culture, identity and tradition; our people are deprived and marginalized from getting our due and fair share in governance, welfare, development, education, entitlement and justice. The rights of the suppressed Hmar people shall not be allowed to be thwarted and deterred by the exercise of such uncalled for belligerency. Enough is enough!” the HPC(D) statement added.

The rebels also specifically mentioned the role of Mizoram Home Minister Lalzirliana for in the arrest of their leaders. “If Mizoram Home Minister Lalzirliana and his cahoots thinks that the rightful demand of the Hmar people of Mizoram and a peoples’ movement launched under Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic) could be suppressed with the arrest of our selfless leaders, they shall be proven wrong,” they said, adding they will hold the Government of Mizoram “responsible for the fall-out”.

“As a matter of fact, our movement will be taken to a higher level and we are more determined towards prioritizing our goal ever than before. There are hundreds of Hmar youths and leaders who are ready to respond to the call of securing our rights and the long-time aspirations of the Hmar people that are also represented by our arrested leaders,” they said.

The outfit who have strong bases in neighbouring Manipur and Assam also said that Mizoram government has been “blindly accusing the HPC(D) of planning several attacks on the people and state of Mizoram”.

“We are also accused of disintegrating the Mizos of Mizoram and elsewhere. We would like to remind one and all by asserting that the Hmars’ movement in Mizoram and its adjoining areas is not against any individual people or community but only for securing a just socio-economic and political development of the Hmars in Sinlung Hills areas of Mizoram which has not only Hmars living in it…The just development of Hmar people of Mizoram will in no way disintegrate the Mizos; instead it will strengthen and integrate the Mizos.”

The Hmar rebels further added that “time has come to secure their equal share in welfare, democracy and development”. “No one can stop us from securing our rights.”

Keywords: Latest Mizoram News