ULFA denounces pro-talks factions peace bid

The banned United Liberation Front of Asom sees a 'deep-rooted conspiracy' in the peace overtures of its pro-talks faction led by breakaway leader Mrinal Hazarika and the 'colonial India government'.

In a statement e-mailed to the media by the outfit's central publicity wing, it accused the breakaway faction of hatching a conspiracy against the ULFA leadership in the name of mobilising public opinion for unconditional talks between the ULFA top-brass and the Indian government. The ULFA's central leadership denounced the peace efforts.

ULFA has stated that its 'expelled' leader Hazarika and his faction are trying to engineer public pressure on the ULFA to hold peace talks with the government sans any conditions and within the framework of the Indian Constitution giving up the 'core demand of the restoration of sovereignty of Assam.'

The ULFA stated that it would rather prefer to follow the footsteps of former Naga rebel leader Late A Z Phizo than to fall into the Indian government's 'trap' like the Mizo rebel leader Laldenga who had compromised.

Meanwhile, Hazarika stated that identity of indigenous people of Assam who are facing serious threat because of unabated infiltration from Bangladesh, would be at stake after a decade or so if the ULFA leadership continued to insist on 'restoration of sovereignty of Assam' and avoided holding a dialogue with the government.

Hazarika said the outfit's central leadership was being provided with a distorted picture of the ground realities in Assam by some vested interests which are out to thwart any possibility of direct talks between the ULFA and the Indian government.

He also said those in the  ULFA who has failed to read the mind of the peace-aspiring masses in Assam and are opposed to peace talks with the government, were bound to be relegated to the background in the present circumstances.