Ex-rebels pledge to fast till death

Aizawl, Jul 6 (UNI) Aggrieved former Mizo National Front rebels today pledged to continue their fast-unto-death even as talks between Peace Accord MNF Returnees' Association (Parma) president B Zorampara and MNF minister and senior party leader H Vanlaluava failed to bear fruit.

''Mr Vanlaluava requested us to call off the hunger strike with an assurance that our demands have been put in the Cabinet,'' Zorampara told UNI.

''We have had enough of such lame promises and we have no more faith in our former leader's promises. So we have decided to go on with the fast-unto-death till we see action from the government to rehabilitate us,'' he added.

About 30 Pamra members are undertaking the fast at the Mizo Students' Union office at Treasury Square under the banner of Peace Accord Implementation Demand Committee.

The former rebels alleged that the MNF-Union government peace accord had not been implemented in regard to the resettlement of the surrendered rebels and about 500 MNF rebels surrendered following the 1986 peace accord.

Meanwhile, former chief minister and Pradesh Congress chief Lal Thanhawla accused the MNF leaders of neglecting the rehabilitation of their cadres during the peace talks with the Union government.

''The MNF leaders were not interested in the rehabilitation of their cadres in their demands during the peace talks as long as they could become ministers under the India Union,'' Lal Thanhawla said at a press conference at his Zarkawt residence here.

It was the then Mizoram chief secretary Lalkhama, who brought up the rehabilitation issue, he added.

He said had they wanted, the MNF leaders could have rehabilitated all the MNF returnees during these two successive terms.

UNI