• Military

• WMD Menu                           

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

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

India offers talks to Assam rebels

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Guwahati, May 28, IRNA
India-ULFA
The Indian government has invited an influential separatist group in the northeastern state of Assam for holding peace talks aimed at ending more than 25 years of violent insurgency in the region, officials today told IRNA.

An Indian home ministry official said a formal letter was being sent from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Friday to the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) inviting the group for peace talks with the government.

"The letter signed by India's National Security Adviser M. K.

Narayanan was addressed to ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa," the fficial told IRNA by requesting anonymity.

The ULFA is a militant group fighting for an independent homeland in Assam since 1979 and is considered one of the most organized rebel armies in the northeast with an estimated 3,000 guerrilla fighters.

The letter from the PMO was handed over to noted Assamese writer Indira Goswami, sought by the ULFA to mediate for peace talks with New Delhi.

"I do not want to disclose the content of the letter, but I would say it is very encouraging and a positive move forward," Goswami said by telephone from New Delhi.

"I had sent an e-mail to the ULFA chairman and hope they respond positively to the offer." The PMO's letter is in response to a letter by the ULFA chairman to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh two months back where the group offered to hold talks if the government was willing to discuss their main demand for "sovereignty" or independence.

"We are hopeful of a breakthrough. From our side we are ready to extend whatever is required to facilitate holding of negotiations with the ULFA," Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said.

On Wednesday, Indian home ministry and Assam government officials signed a historic ceasefire agreement with the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in New Delhi, another powerful tribal rebel group active in Assam.

"If the ULFA too joins the peace process like the NDFB, we hope to bring the curtains down to one of the northeast's violent insurgencies," the chief minister said.

The ULFA during the past two days had triggered a series of explosions targeting power transformers and road bridges, besides attacking an army convoy injuring at least four soldiers.

More than 10,000 people have died of insurgency in Assam during the past two decades.

2160/1430/1412
::IRNA No.035 28/05/2005 15:17 --End