• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

India's NE separatist group accepts New Delhi's offer for fresh talks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Guwahati, India, Nov 15, IRNA
India-Northeast-Separatists
A dominant separatist guerrilla group in India's restive northeast Wednesday said it would accept New Delhi's offer for fresh talks if the Indian government communicates the proposal formally, a rebel statement said.

India's National Security Adviser M K Narayanan Monday asked the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom(ULFA) to set a date for fresh peace talks during a meeting in New Delhi with two rebel
representatives -- noted Assamese writer Indira Goswami and Rebati Phukan.

"ULFA cares for a political resolution and to keep the process rolling India must send a proposal through the PCG (People's Consultative Group) and the core issue of the talks should be restoration of sovereignty of Assam," the ULFA said in a statement in its fortnightly newsletter Freedom.

"We would welcome such a proposal."

Both Goswami and Phukan are members of the ULFA constituted PCG to mediate for peace talks with the government, although the two rebel emissaries met government negotiators Monday as individuals and not under PCG's banner.

The Indian government Sept 24 called off a six-week ceasefire and resumed military operations blaming the ULFA for stepping up attacks and extortions.

The ULFA, fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979, in the past one month triggered at least two dozen explosions killing about 25 people and wounding some 50 more, besides blowing up oil and gas pipelines.

Peace talks between ULFA representatives and the Indian government formally broke last month after the PCG, a civil society team appointed by the rebels, pulling out of the peace process blaming New Delhi for calling off the truce.

There were three rounds of talks between the ULFA chosen PCG and the Indian government peace negotiators.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the first meeting with the PCG in October last year said the government was ready to 'discuss all issues' with the ULFA.

The ULFA wants the release of five of their jailed leaders as a precondition to holding peace talks. New Delhi in return wants the rebel leadership to commit in writing that they would come for direct negotiations if the jailed militants were released.

The ULFA was not willing to give it in writing leading to the collapse of the peace process.

The ULFA is one of the at least 30 rebel armies operating in India's northeast, where insurgencies have claimed more than 50,000 lives since 1947.

2160/2322/1412