Latest News from India - ULFA leaders to begin talks with Centre

New Delhi:In an effort to bring an amicable solution to the vexed insurgency problem in Assam, top ULFA leaders are expected to start the process of formal peace talks with the government here next week. A senior government functionary said the ULFA leaders led by 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa will arrive next week to present the central government their charter of demands which was prepared in consultation with the civil society members. 'I think they are coming either this week or next week to Delhi to present the documents. That would be a starting points for talks with ULFA,' he said. So far, only preliminary rounds of dialogue between the ULFA and the Centre's interlocutor P C Haldar have been held in Guwahati. 'The ULFA has issued a statement that they will give upviolence, suspend all operations and they wish to begin talks. So, the talks will start,' the government functionary said. Sources said the banned group is unlikely to press for its demand of sovereignty and may look for autonomy and other safeguard for the people of Assam under the Constitution. However, the basis of dialogue will depend on ULFA's charter of demands. Representatives of central and state governments and ULFA will take part in future meetings. Rajkhowa led an eight-member team during introductory talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram in February. However, the group's elusive 'commander-in-chief' Paresh
Baruah has been opposed to any dialogue with the government if 'sovereignty' is not discussed in the meeting.





Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin | Settlement Statement | WordPress Tutorials