[Assam] AT: PCG pulling out?

[umesh sharma]

Guwahati, Wednesday, August 2, 2006  
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  PCG threatens to pull out
By A Staff Reporter
 GUWAHATI, Aug 1 – The peace process to bring the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) seems to be heading towards an uncertain future and the People’s Consultative Group (PCG), formed by the outfit to pave the way for talks, has threatened that it might be forced to pull out of the process if it did not get any favourable response from the Centre shortly. Meanwhile, the People’s Committee for Peace Initiatives in Assam (PCPIA), an umbrella body of 25 different organisations of the State, have launched a fortnight long programme from today demanding immediate steps by the Central Government to expedite the peace process.

PCG coordinator Lachit Bordoloi told The Assam Tribune here today that the PCG wrote a letter to the National Security Adviser MK Narayanan alleging that the Government violated the spirit of the third round of talks between the Government of India and the group and the decisions taken in the meeting were not implemented. The PCG is waiting for a response from the Central Government and “ if we do not get a favourable response from the Centre, we may have to consider pulling out of the peace process.” He said that the PCG would meet within the next one week to chalk out its future course of action and the ULFA also made it clear that it would endorse whatever decision the PCG takes.

Bordoloi said that in the third round of talks, which was chaired by the Union Home Minister, the Centre assured to consider the demand for release of five central committee members of the ULFA favourably in consultation with the State Government. It was also decided that the security forces would be restrained and the PCG would appeal to the ULFA to maintain restraint. 

Accordingly the PCG made a public appeal to the ULFA to maintain restraint, but the operations against the ULFA men are going on and at least 12 members of the outfit were killed since the last talks, he added. He also expressed the view that if the ULFA retaliated now, the Government would have to face the blame. “If the decisions taken in the meetings chaired by the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister are not honoured, how can the organizations like the ULFA have faith on the Government to come for talks,” he questioned.

Bordoloi said that the release of the jailed central committee members of the ULFA and suspension of operations are the key to expediting the peace process and said that after holding three rounds of talks with the PCG, the Government should not have asked for a formal letter from the ULFA to carry forward the peace process.

Meanwhile, the PCPIA has launched a fortnight long agitational programme from today demanding immediate steps to expedite the peace process. The organization launched a publicity and postering campaign all over the state today, which will continue till August 3, which will be followed by demonstration in the district headquarters and memorandum to Prime Minister on August 4. The organization will organize citizens’ meets on August 6 to create public opinion in favour of the peace process and on August 7 rallies will be held in Guwahati and other district headquarters of the state.

The PCPIA alleged that the attitude of the State Governor towards the peace talks was not favourable and on August 8, the members of the organization would burn the effigies of the Governor demanding his removal. The organization will organize citizens’ meets in Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Nalbari from August 10 to 13 and on the Independence Day, the constituents of the PCPIA will hoist black flags in their respective offices.


Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740

 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
 		
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