Aizawl, Sept 15: The ninth round of talks between the Mizoram government and the underground Bru National Liberation Front held here today remained inconclusive and would be resumed tomorrow, officials said. The dialogue was held between a six-member BNLF delegation, led by outfit's president Surjomoni Reang, and working group of representatives of the state government led by new deputy commissioner of Aizawl district C Tawnluaia.

The other members of the BNLF delegation comprised the top brass of the organisation including its General Secretary Solomon Prophul Ushoy, 'army chief' Hmunsiama and 'communication secretary' Bruto Meska. Four-member delegation of the Bru Welfare Association of Mizoram led by its President Biakmawia also participated in the two-day talks.
The BNLF which launched armed insurrection against the Mizoram government since late 1997 was demanding a separate autonomous district council for the BRUs, carving out north western parts of the state.

The outfit, which was indulging in illegal and violent activities like killing policemen and civilians, abductions and extortion against the state government recently changed its demand from autonomous district council to regional council during the course of negotiations last year. The talks, which began in September 2001, gained significance as the state government insisted that repatriation of BRUs who fled Mizoram to neighbouring Tripura in the last part of 1997 would not be implemented unless and until the BNLF eschew violence and come overground.

Bureau Report