AIZAWL, June 14 � With the signing of ceasefire pact between the Centre and eight Mizo insurgent groups under the banner of United People�s Front (UPF) on Tuesday last, the talks with the groups was ungraded to political level from official level, according to former Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga.
Zoramthanga, who was present in Delhi during the signing of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) said here today that delays in peace talks between the Centre and the ethnic Mizo militant groups was harming mutual trust between the two sides.
�Years have passed after signing SoO earlier, but without any formal parleys,� he said, adding that the groups did not sign the SoO during the last nine months making the situation explosive in the North East.�
The former insurgent leader said that he helped in brokering peace between the groups and the Centre without actually participating in the talks.
The UPF constituents are Kuki National Front, Zomi Revolutionary Army, Kuki Revolutionary Army (United), Zomi Defence Force, United Kuki Liberation Front, Kuki Revolutionary Front, Zomi Defence Volunteers and Hmar People�s Convention (Democrats), he said.
The militant groups headed by UPF chairman ST Thangboi were represented by leaders of the groups while the Centre was represented by Ministry of Home Affairs officials headed by Sambhu Singh, joint secretary (NE).
Earlier, Zoramthanga, went to Myanmar and Bangkok two times to broker peace between the Myanmar Government and 17 ethnic-based insurgent groups in that country. � PTI
