Major Indian rebel group ULFA holds peace talks with government

Major Indian rebel group ULFA holds peace talks with government

2011-08-05 22:19:27 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW DELHI (BNO NEWS) -- One of India's main separatist groups on Friday held peace talks with the government in New Delhi to end more than three decades of insurgency in the northeastern state of Assam, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

During the 40-minute meeting, which was also attended by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, a seven-member delegation of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) handed over a charter of demands to Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram. The contents of the charter were not available immediately.

According to sources, however, the ULFA dropped its demand for independence and is likely to press for more autonomy, special status for Assam and other safeguards for its people under the Constitution.

Gogoi described Friday's meeting as a significant step in bringing peace in Assam. "If necessary, we may have to change law. But we must find a peaceful solution under the Constitution," he said, as reported by PTI.

ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, who led the delegation, also expressed optimism about the peace talks. Rajkhowa and others members also allegedly asked the government to bring back its general secretary Anup Chetia, who has been in detention in Bangladesh since 1997, to facilitate his participation in the peace talks.

Chetia is likely to be deported from Bangladesh as a major confidence-building measure ahead of the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka early next month.

Friday's meeting is the first formal peace negotiation with the government after 32 years of insurgency since the formation of the UFLA in 1979. Rajkhowa and other members of the group had "introductory" talks with Prime Minister Singh and Chidambaram in February.

The peace process between the ULFA, which had announced a unilateral ceasefire in July, and the Indian government began after New Delhi appointed former Intelligence Bureau Chief P.C. Haldar as its interlocutor in June 2010 and the Assam government facilitated the release of Rajkhowa and other top jailed leaders.

However, a faction of the ULFA, led by its commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, has opposed to the ongoing negotiations. He said that, according to ULFA's constitution, no member who had been jailed or was in the custody of 'enemy camp' could take any decision on the ULFA's behalf.

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