Guwahati : Dimasa militant outfit Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) on Thursday joined several political parties in appealing to both the Centre and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to sit for unconditional talks for a political settlement of the insurgency problem.

At a two-day "Jatiya Mohasabha" (national conclave), which began here under the aegis of the People's Committee for Peace Initiative (PCPI), DHD chairman Dilip Nunisa urged the Centre to play the role of "guardian and big brother" and hold direct talks with the ULFA.

He also appealed to the ULFA to authorise the five jailed leaders to hold negotiations with the Government.

The DHD has signed a ceasefire agreement, which came into effect on January 1, 2003.

The PCPI, a conglomerate of 27 organisations of Assam, organised the conclave in a bid to end the deadlock that has persisted after three rounds of parleys between the Centre and the ULFA-appointed People's Consultative Group (PCG).

Speaking at the conclave, the former Chief Minister and AGP president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said 12 political parties were appealing to both the Centre and the ULFA to hold an unconditional dialogue.

Blaming the Centre for the deadlock, AGP president Brindaban Goswami urged both sides to sit for unconditional talks.

Nationalist Congress Party president Dhirendra Dev Adhikari, Communist Party of India leader Bhogeswar Dutta and Janata Dal (Secular) leader Harendra Dev Goswami, and Purbanchaliya Loka Parishad leader Pabindra Deka also called for unconditional talks.

Wives of five ULFA leaders who are missing after the crackdown on the ULFA and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) by the Royal Bhutan Army in 2003 began a fast-unto-death on Wednesday, demanding information on the whereabouts of their husbands.

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