[Assam] Centre for direct talks with ULFA

Fri Jun 23 02:43:11 PDT 2006

Guwahati, Friday, June 23, 2006  
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Home Secretary VK Duggal with members of PCG addressing a joint press conference after the meeting.  UNI

Centre for direct talks with ULFA
>From Kalyan Barooah
 NEW DELHI, June 22  The ULFA peace process has been granted a fresh lease of life, with Government of India and Peoples Consultative Group (PCG), today agreeing to look into each others demand to pave the way for face-to-face talks with the militant outfit to end hostilities in the State. It took the two sides most part of the day to iron out the differences. But at the end of it, the Central Government and the PCG managed to produce a carefully drafted joint statement that sought to address the contentious issues including release of the five ULFA detainees and the end of hostilities. The joint statement was read out Aroop Borbora in presence of Union Home Secretary, V.K.Duggal and other members of the PCG.

Summing up the outcome of the meeting that stretched for over four hours, the Home Secretary said that the next round of talks would be with ULFA. But in the same breath he sang paeans in praise of the PCG singling out Dr Mamoni Rasiom Goswami in particular. But neither sides gave any indication about the timeframe within which the direct talk was expected. 

The bottom line was that the Government of India assured to favourably look into the demand for release of the five ULFA central committee members, while the PCG on its part promised to request the insurgent outfit to restraint itself. However, the Governments gesture would depend on how ULFA behaved in coming days, said an official. 

The talks held at the North Block was presided over by Home Minister, Shivraj Patil and attended for a short while by National Security Adviser, M.K.Narayanan. To show that it means business, the Home Ministry lined all top officials including senior IB officials. Chief Secretary, S.Kabilan, represented the State Government while the full PCG was present. 

The joint statement said that responding to the points made by the PCG, the Union home Minister stated that their request for the release of five ULFA detenues would be considered favourably in consultation with the Government of Asom. Simultaneously, he urged the PCG to impress upon the ULFA to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment so that direct talks with the Government of India are held at the earliest. 

The PCG expressed satisfaction over the Home Ministers approach to negotiations that will help usher lasting peace in Asom. PCG also assured the Home Minister that they would appeal to the ULFA to create a peaceful atmosphere in Asom, which will be conducive to holding direct talks. Further modalities for holding these talks between the ULFA and the Government of India in a fix timeframe, would be worked out through mutual consultations. 

The meeting concluded with a hope that there would be restraint on all sides, the statement said 

The meeting saw the Home Ministry officials trying to secure a concrete assurance from the PCG that the ULFA would abjure violence and come for direct negotiations. However, the PCG, working as per its brief said that further continuation of the peace process depended on the release of the five central committee leaders languishing in jail in the State. The five ULFA leaders included vice chairman, Pradip Gogoi, ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain, publicity secretary, Mithinga Daimari, cultural secretary, Pranati Deka and Ramu Mech. 

The PCG also tried to counter the governments charges by arguing that the delay of eight months may have added to the outfits frustration. They also pointed out that the relatively peaceful Assembly poll was mainly on account of the restraint shown by ULFA. 

On the other hand, Centre brought up the recent incidents of violence that rocked the State and escalation in hostilities. The NSA, on his part suggested that the two sides should consider a smaller negotiating team of two persons from each sides. The NSA later told newsmen that he was positive about the peace process. 

Meanwhile, even as the talks were deadlocked because of the Centres insistence on abjuring of violence, the two sides broke off for a break. The PCG members were left alone in the meeting hall to consult among themselves. The meeting again resumed after about 45 minutes, when the PCG indicated that the ULFA may restraint itself if release of the five leaders were favourably considered. 

The Centres assurance may be bid to buy time to see if the ULFA stick to PCGs word, because the State Government has already stated that it was willing to release at least three of the leaders. The State Chief Secretary also told newsmen that though the final decision has to be taken by the Central Government, the State Government was in favour of their release. 

The Home Secretary said that the PCG was going to talk to ULFA and they must create an atmosphere conducive for peace talks. 

Describing the meeting as productive, Borbora said it was the endeavour of the PCG to try to bring both sides to talks. When asked whether they were going to ask ULFA to announce ceasefire, he said they were going to plead for restraint.

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