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Peace talks with ULFA: Sovereignty demand posing hurdle, says Gogoi |
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Peace talks with Assam’s major militant outfit ULFA appearto have deadlocked with no immediate prospects of their resumption. This was indicated by State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sept. 14 during his visit to New Delhi. Gogoi who was in the national capital to participate in the 5th State Conclave. 2007, said ULFA’s demand for dialogue on “sovereignty” is the main hurdle in the peace process though the Government was willing to release the five ULFA leaders who are in jail. He said the state gov¬ernment was willing to release the detained leaders, but ruled out the possibility of any discussion on the `core demand’ of sovereignty.
The Chief Minister traced the current deadlock to ULFA’s adamant stand. “The Government of India had even unilaterally suspended operations against them,” he reiterated. However, they recruited cadres, extorted money and started amassing arms and weapons during the period leading to breakdown of the peace process.
Gogoi further clarified that the Government was not inter¬ested in talking to the People’s Consultative Group and prefers direct negotiations with the outfit.
Talking about the development projects in the state, Gogoi said the economy of the State has started to look up with invest¬ments pouring in.
Earlier, taking part in a discussion, the Chief Minister said the State Government would encourage national institutions to set up branches in the region.
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Mamoni suffers stroke
Novelist and peace activist Mamoni Raisom Goswami was admit¬ted to the intensive critical care unit of a hospital on Sept. 12 after suffering a mild cerebral stroke. Doctors attending on her at the GNRC Hospitals described her condition as “stable”.
“She is recovering now and talking to doctors and family members,” said Manoj Kumar Deka, a spokesperson for GNRC Hospi¬talks.
The 65-year-old intellectual has been trying to bring the banned ULFA to the negotiating table.
Family sources said she “could have been under stress” because of constant travelling across the state to attend differ¬ent functions. She resigned last week from the Nagarik Shanti Mancha, Asom - a peace forum - saying she would work more active¬ly for the People’s Consultative Group (PCG) formed by ULFA to bring the peace process back on the rails.
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