Shillong, June 4 (IANS) Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai Friday said the Assam government has already initiated the peace process with the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and was now awaiting a response from the rebel leadership to begin formal negotiations.
He, however, ruled out any parleys with the anti-talk faction of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland.
‘After the home minister (P. Chidambaram) authorised the Assam chief minister (Tarun Gogoi) to go ahead with the talks, I understand the peace process has already been initiated. Now we are awaiting a response from them (ULFA leadership),’ Pillai told journalists.
‘Talks have been initiated, consultations are on and in the coming weeks we will work out the modalities for talks with them (ULFA),’ he said.
The home secretary is on a three-day visit to the Meghalaya capital to review the security situation in the northeast besides issues relating to border disputes between regional states.
Pillai said the ULFA general council had already met in the Guwahati Central Jail to discuss the issue of opening talks with the government.
‘I understand the ULFA’s governing council has met inside the jail,’ he said. He did not say when the meeting took place.
Almost the entire ULFA top brass is now in jail – chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, ‘foreign secretary’ Sasha Choudhury, ‘finance secretary’ Chitrban Hazarika, ‘cultural secretary’ Pranati Deka and political ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain.
ULFA vice chairman Pradeep Gogoi and publicity chief Mithinga Daimary are out on bail and drumming up public opinion for the peace talks.
The only top ULFA leader who remains elusive is self-styled commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, who is aid to be hiding in the forests n the border between Myanmar and China after the Bangladesh government started a crackdown against the ULFA elements in that country.
‘I appeal to all ULFA leaders still outside to listen to the voices of the people of Assam and come and join the peace process. Violence cannot resolve any issues,’ Pillai said.
Meanwhile, the Assam chief minister Friday said channels of communication between the ULFA and the government have been established.
‘We are in touch with them (ULFA leaders) and things are progressing well,’ he said.
Pillai also said that at the moment there can be no discussions with the anti-talk faction of the NDFB, but discussions would be held with those who want to work under the ambit of the Indian Constitution.
‘Ranjan Daimary is facing charges of terrorism and the rule of the law would prevail. Therefore, there can be no dialogue with the Ranjan Daimary group,’ he said.
Daimary was handed over by Bangladesh to Indian authorities May 1 and is now in the custody of Assam Police.
