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North East : Assam peace process : Third round brings a ray of hope

	June 26, 2006

In a move that is likely to give a boost to the

peace talks with Assam’s major militant outfit,

ULFA, the Centre has expressed its readiness to

consider the release of its five jailed leaders to pave

the way for a ceasefire, but said it will do so only

after consulting the state government. The Congressled

Tarun Gogoi government in the state has already

given its nod for their release.

The proposal for the release of five ULFA

militants was put forward by the People’s

Consultative Group (PCG), which is holding talks

with the central leadership on behalf of the militant

group, during its third round of negotiations with

Home Minister Shivraj Patil and senior officials held

in New Delhi on June 22.

The rebel group had demanded the release of

at least five of its senior leaders - vice-chairman

Pradip Gogoi, cultural secretary Pranati Deka,

political advisor and ideologue Bhimkanta

Buragohain, publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary

and hardcore member Ramu Mech - before

beginning direct peace talks with the central

government.

Observers consider the Centre’s gesture as a

significant step by the Manmohan Singh

Government to promote the ongoing peace process

in Assam.

In a joint statement issued after the talks, PCG

spokesman Arup Borbora said Shivraj Patil asked

the group to impress upon the ULFA the need to

ensure a peaceful and conducive environment for

early talks. The PCG’s pointsperson, Mamoni Raison

Goswami, and ten other members attended the

meeting.

Borbora said that modalities for holding these

talks in a fixed timeframe would be worked out

through mutual consultations. Home Secretary V.K.

Duggal indicated that this might be the last round

of talks between New Delhi and the PCG and the

next round would be held directly with the ULFA.

Asked whether the government has set a

particular timeframe for a ceasefire with the ULFA,

Duggal said “it will be at the earliest”. He also

said the role of the PCG would not be underplayed

even after direct talks with the rebel group.

However, observers point out that there was

more than a hint in the statement that plans could

change if the Ulfa resorted to violence, while the

modalities for a dialogue were being worked out.

“The PCG assured the Home Minister that they

would appeal to Ulfa to create a peaceful

atmosphere in Assam. The meeting concluded with

the hope that there would be restraint on all sides,

it said.

Two rounds of talks have already been held

between the PCG and the government authorities

with the first round being chaired by Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Oct 26, 2005.

The Chief Minister who is battling a health

problem ever since he returned from an overseas

trip, could not participate in the June 22 talks. All

PCG members, barring writer Goswami and Mukul

Mahanta, called on the ailing Chief Minister at his

hilltop residence before leaving Guwahati for the

New Delhi talks.