The Hindu : National : Assam peace talks today

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Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005

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Assam peace talks today

Special Correspondent

People's Group for `dignified solution'

NEW DELHI: For the first time, the People's Consultative Group (PCG) appointed by the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) will hold peace talks with the Centre here on Wednesday. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will also address the PCG, sending a positive signal about the seriousness of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government to take its initiative forward.

Honourable solution

On the eve of the talks, the PCG said the ULFA wanted a "dignified and honourable'' solution to the State's three-decade-old insurgency problem.

"We want peace in Assam. The ULFA wants a dignified solution to the 27-year old conflict,'' PCG member and Guwahati High Court advocate Arup Borbora said here. After their meeting with the Prime Minister, the 11-member PCG will hold talks with the National Security Adviser (NSA) M.K. Narayanan.

"Our job basically is to frame the basic structure for ultimate dialogue between the conflicting parties and resolve the issue amicably. We will also try to remove all hurdles coming in the way of direct talks between them and make them fruitful,'' he said after their closed-door internal meeting which was held at the residence of Jnanpeeth award winning Assamese writer Indira Goswami who has been mediating for the Centre-ULFA talks.

The peace talks come in the background of Army Chief General J.J. Singh's observation that there was no possibility of easing operations against the ULFA.

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