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Setback for peace

Sushanta Talukdar

Another attempt to bring the United Liberation Front of Asom to the negotiating table seems to have failed.

IF THE third round of discussions between the Centre and the People's Consultative Group (PCG), in Delhi on June 22, had fuelled hopes of direct talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom, the events that followed have put a question mark over the fate of the peace initiative. The ULFA had designated the PCG to hold talks on its behalf.

Six hardcore ULFA militants were killed by security forces in two separate encounters in Assam's Nalbari district and Meghalaya's East Garo Hills. The ULFA has dubbed it a conspiracy by security forces to sabotage the peace initiative. The encounters came at a time when the outfit was awaiting a response from the Government on the release of five of its jailed leaders — vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, adviser Bhimkanta Buragohain, cultural secretary Pranati Deka, central publicity secretary Mihinga Daimari, and self-styled captain Ramu Mech. After the talks with the PCG, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the Centre would favourably consider the demand for their release in consultation with the State Government. He had urged the PCG to persuade the ULFA to ensure a conducive atmosphere for direct talks. The Ministry of Home Affairs, however, took exception to the ULFA serving an extortion notice on Amarendra Sahu, the Reserve Bank of India's Guwahati-based regional director, demanding Rs.15 lakh. Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal said the outfit must convince Delhi of its commitment to peace by stopping all illegal activities.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi announced on the floor of the Assembly that a ceasefire would be declared and the five jailed ULFA leaders released immediately on receiving a direct communiqué from the outfit declaring its preparedness for direct talks. He also urged the militant group to name its team of negotiators.

ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, however, said the team could not be named till the jailed leaders of the outfit were released. He said the ULFA considered the Assam Government's appeal an insult to the two facilitators, noted writer Indira Goswami and veteran footballer Rebati Phukan.

The People's Committee for Peace Initiate (PCPI), a conglomerate of 21 organisations, called a 12-hour Assam bandh on July 14 to protest against the killing of the six ULFA militants. The response was near total. The pressure group has also set a July 31 deadline for release of ULFA leaders and a halt to army operations.

Delhi and Dispur are dithering on the release of the jailed leaders as they are not yet convinced about the ULFA's desire for peace. The ULFA insists freeing the leaders is essential for a formal decision on the peace talks. The pressure may now mount on the PCG from either side to break the deadlock.

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