Shillong, Feb. 16: Negotiations between the Achik National Volunteers? Council (ANVC) and New Delhi have received a boost with both sides agreeing to carry forward the talks in a meeting scheduled for next month. Of late, the ANVC has expressed its desire to quit the path of violence and join the mainstream.
Top leaders of the outfit recently told The Telegraph that the ANVC is ?committed to bring back peace in the Garo hills?.
On February 8, Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga, back from Bangkok after his meeting with the NSCN (I-M) leaders, said at least three Northeast militants groups have shown interest to sit for negotiations. Though Zoramthanga did not name any of them, sources said some ANVC leaders could have been present at the meeting.
The militants, led by ANVC vice-president William Marak, are also believed to have met senior officials of the intelligence bureau and Zoramthanga at the Thai capital.
In a recent interview to The Telegraph, ANVC general secretary Wanding Marak had admitted that a meeting did take place earlier this year, adding, ?Peace talks with the Centre started from 1999 when the ANVC submitted its memorandum to New Delhi.?
The sources said the Mizo chief minister?s visit to Bangkok had been instrumental in preparing the ground for ?a Delhi visit by some outfits operating in Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur?. The outfits? leaders are said to have accepted New Delhi?s offer to initiate peace talks, provided the Centre met some of the conditions.
New Delhi has asked for a fresh list of their demands from the ANVC and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) which would help prepare the ground rules for the talks as and when they begin. Sources said the Centre would also take into consideration the respective state government?s appeal not to overlook their interest while negotiating with the outfits.
?The concerns raised by Meghalaya has already made the Centre rethink its earlier approach which excluded the state governments. So, it is unlikely that talks would begin without representation from the governments,? an intelligence official said.
The ANVC is said to have prepared its list of demands, which is apparently ?not too different? from its earlier stand. ANVC general secretary Marak has made it clear that most of the future talks would centre round its first demand ? that of a separate Garoland.
?Statehood first and then come the other demands,? Marak said.