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Rediff.com  » News » ULFA blames govt for deadlock in talks

ULFA blames govt for deadlock in talks

By K Anurag in Guwahati
September 01, 2006 19:40 IST
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The banned United Liberation Front of Asom Friday accused the Government of India of bringing the on-going peace initiative to a standstill by remaining adamant on its demand for a 'letter of commitment' from the militant group expressing its willingness to sit for dialogue with government.

The militant group in the editorial of the latest issue of its mouthpiece, Freedom termed it a delaying tactics on part of the government. The ULFA alleged that the government feels no urgency to hold the dialogue with ULFA after it managed to hold trouble-free assembly elections and a peaceful Independence Day celebration in Assam taking advantage of the on-going peace initiative.

The ULFA has smelt a rat in the latest riders -- a letter of commitment from ULFA within 15 days, assurance about the presence of ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua and Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa in talks and specific date and venue for dialogue.

The group alleged that there was a veiled threat from the government to let its army loose on the people of Assam in case the ULFA failed to abide by latest conditions.

The Freedom editorial went on to say that there was a design to engineer internal conflict in the ULFA. The government has maintained that jailed central committee leaders of the militant group would be released only after the ULFA give a letter of commitment for peace talks.

The ULFA stated that the government that the blame should go to the militant group if the jailed leaders couldn't be released in the absence of a letter of commitment from it and it may lead to conflicts within the group.

About the 'veiled threat' to intensify army operation, which is under temporary suspension till September 7, the ULFA termed it's a pressure tactic to force it on peace talks with the help of pro-government intellectuals.

The militant group criticised the government for trying to belittle the ULFA-constituted People's Consultative Group which was facilitating the peace talks, for failing to generate the letter of commitment from the militant group.

However, the militant group refrained from making any clear statement whether it was going to send the letter commitment or not to facilitate freedom of its jailed leaders whose presence in the outfit's central committee meeting was vital for taking a decision on direct talks with the government.

Meanwhile, the PCG and noted writer Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami are in touch with the Union home ministry to break the deadlock in the peace initiative.

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K Anurag in Guwahati