Shillong, Oct 22: The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government wanted all HNLC cadres to come overground and surrender, and it has not discussed yet whether to appoint Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, former “general secretary” of the militant outfit as mediator.

Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong on Monday said, “Our wish is to see that all HNLC cadres come overground. From the government side, the door is always open if they follow the footstep of Bah Che (Thangkhiew).”

Thangkhiew claimed that he has retired from the HNLC and he surrendered before Tynsong on October 18 at the police headquarters in Shillong in the presence of senior police officials.

Thangkhiew was the founding member of the HNLC, following a split in 1992 in the Hynñiewtrep A’chik Liberation Council (HALC). HALC was the first militant outfit in Meghalaya and it was formed in 1987.

Asked if Thangkhiew had put certain condition to the government when he decided to come overground, Tynsong said, “he (Thangkhiew) has not put any condition.”

The HNLC through its “publicity secretary”, Saiñkupar Nongtraw who is also acting “general secretary” said that it would accept Thangkhiew as mediator for a dialogue between the HNLC and the government.

Nongtraw also made it clear that the HNLC would not compromise its fight for “Hynñiewtrep Sovereign State” just by surrendering or embracing financial package of the government as long as the Indian government failed to recognise Hynñiewtrep.

Whether the government will appoint Thangkhiew as the mediator, Tynsong said, “Let us wait. We will first discuss the issue together with the Chief Minister, Home Minister and the government as a whole.”

Asked if the MDA government would try to reach out to Bobby Marweiñ to urge him come overground like Thangkhiew, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “Leave this to the wisdom of the government.”