Dr Khiren Roy - Journalist Writer India

Meanwhile, during the last meeting with the government in New Delhi, two negotiators on behalf of ULFA were informed that the government was interested for direct talks, but the outfit must fulfill some preconditions. In an hour-long meeting with the envoys, Dr Indira (Mamoni Raisom) Goswami and Reboti Phukon on September 5 at the Prime Minister’s Office in South Block, the National Security Adviser, MK Narayanan reiterated the stand of the government. While Mr Narayanan denied any move from the government for releasing the detained ULFA central committee members until official communication received from the ULFA, the Union Home Secretary, VK Duggal, who was also present in the meeting, insisted that the armed group would refrain from violent activities as well as serving any extortion notices here after.

Following a deadlock in the last couple of weeks, the situation improved while New Delhi declared suspension of Army operation against the ULFA on August 13 and later extended for another 15 days (once more it was extended for another 10 days on September 5). The ULFA, on the other hand, declared its restrainment against the security forces. But soon the stalemate emerged, when New Delhi wanted a written letter from the outfit for proceeding to peace talks. The government says it is necessary as a prelude to direct talks between the ULFA and the government in New Delhi. However, the outfit, which is fighting New Delhi for a homeland of Asomiya people since 1979, declined to send any formal letter as a commitment for direct talks. Dr Goswami, the chief negotiator leading an ULFA nominated 11-member delegation representing the civil societies (named as People’s Consultative Group) confirmed the denial, saying, “The ULFA has conveyed a message maintaining that it was not possible for it to send any written commitment for the direct talks with the government.” Of course, the outfit leaders insisted that they would send formal letter to New Delhi immediately after the release of five central committee members, who are serving jail terms.

The ULFA military chief Paresh Barua, while talking a section of Guwahati based media persons recently, reiterated that they would sit for talks immediately after the release of the outfit’s vice-president Pradip Gogoi, political adviser Bhimkanta Buragohain, publicity secretary Mithingia Daimary, cultural secretary Pranati Deka with a senior leader Ramu Mech. Regarding the apprehension of the government that the outfit might make a plan to get back the jailed leaders and then get vanished, Mr Barua declared that they would assure that those freed leaders would not flee Asom.

The ULFA, meanwhile, argued that the government itself was delaying the peace process by putting condition in the form of a formal letter from it expressing willingness for talks. The latest (September 1) issue of Swadhinata, the mouthpiece of the outfit, described the attitude of the government as a trick to create doubts among the people of the state. “Moreover, it was aimed to malign the image of the PCG and that way creating conflict between the PCG and the ULFA,” the mouthpiece, in Asomiya language added.

More recently, a group of Asom based editor, journalist, writer, scholar and social activists have appealed both the ULFA and New Delhi to come forward for the much awaited peace talks. The appeal, released to the media, observed that the government of India has made the situation complicated putting preconditions for the direct talks.

At the same time the appeal, signed by Hiren Gohain (eminent scholar and columnist), Nalinidhar Bhattacharya (littérateur), Kanaksen Deka (editor, Dainik Agradoot), Khiren Roy (editor, Asomiya Khabar), Nitya Borah (columnist), Dilip Chandan (editor, Asom Bani), Adip Kumar Phukan (columnist) with Khagen Mahanta, Indibar Deuri, Bijan Kr Mohajan, Harin Mahanta, Noni Gopal Mahanta, Pulak Choudhury, Prakash Mahanta etc, also urged the armed group not to take the formal communication as a matter of prestige and extend hands for peace talks.