The Hindu : National : Place demands directly, Centre tells ULFA

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Thursday, Jul 20, 2006

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National

Place demands directly, Centre tells ULFA

Sushanta Talukdar

No intermediaries needed: Duggal

GUWAHATI: Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal on Wednesday said the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) must communicate its demands, including release of its jailed leaders, directly to the Centre.

Writer Indira Goswami, chief facilitator between the ULFA-appointed People's Consultative Group (PCG) and the Centre, told The Hindu that Mr. Duggal called her to convey the message that the Centre wanted the ULFA to write directly to it instead of sending messages through intermediaries. She conveyed the message to the ULFA leadership and was expecting a reply by Thursday.

The PCG took exception to Mr. Duggal's statement, dubbing it as "new conditions laid down by the Centre" contrary to the spirit of the outcome of the third round of peace talks on June 22.

Such conditions would unnecessarily complicate the peace process, PCG spokesman Lachit Bordoloi said. Immediately after the third round of discussion, the ULFA issued a statement welcoming the modalities proposed by the PCG for direct talks.

The PCG would review the situation in its next meeting scheduled for July 22.

ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, however, turned down a similar appeal by the Assam Government, asking the outfit to send a direct communiqué to it to facilitate direct talks. The ULFA considered the Assam Government's appeal an insult to the two facilitators — Dr. Goswami and former footballer Rebati Phukan — and the PCG, Mr. Rajkhowa said.

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