The Hindu : Front Page : Mere release of our leaders not enough, says ULFA

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Tuesday, Jan 01, 2008
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Mere release of our leaders not enough, says ULFA

Sushanta Talukdar

GUWAHATI: The United Liberation Front of Asom on Monday clarified that mere release of the jailed leaders would not facilitate peace talks with the Centre and for the dialogue to take place New Delhi must give them in writing that the issue of “restoration of Assam’s sovereignty” would be included.

Reacting to media reports, which stated that the Central government might release five jailed ULFA leaders in the New Year, ULFA chief Paresh Barua described it as another conspiracy to win the hearts of the people ahead of an election.

The first phase of the three-phase panchayat polls in Assam began on Monday.The second and the third phases are scheduled for January 4 and January 9.

e-mail statement

The ULFA chief said in his statement issued through e-mail that the ULFA had never made the release of the five jailed leaders a precondition for holding dialogue but had been insisting on their unconditional release along with the other two issues of “restoration of Assam’s sovereignty” and “whereabouts of the ULFA leaders who went missing from the custody of joint forces of India and Bhutan.”

Mr. Barua, however, stated that the ULFA would readily accept a talks offer if the Centre sent a written proposal with the assurance to discuss the issue of “restoration of Assam’s sovereignty.”

Decision in January

Jnanpith awardee and key peace mediator between the ULFA and the Centre, Indira Goswami had told a section of media that a decision on the release of the top five jailed leaders of the ULFA was likely to be taken by the government in the first week of January.

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