Govt to hold next round of talks with ULFA in April

The next round of dialogue between the officials of the Indian government and the United Liberation Front of Assam faction led by its 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa will be held in New Delhi on April 9 before Rangali Bihu, according to sources.

The last round of dialogue with the ULFA faction, which is now on truce, was held on October 25 last year. Senior Union home ministry officials will hold dialogue with the ULFA to find a solution to the over three-decade-old insurgency problem of Assam.

Compliance of ceasefire ground rules signed by both sides, surrender of arms and ammunition and total halt of operations by security forces against the ULFA faction and some other key issues as mentioned in the 'charter of demands', which was submitted by the outfit in August last year, are expected to be discussed the next round of dialogue.

The ULFA faction demands amendment in the Constitution for finding "meaningful" ways to protect the rights and identity of the indigenous people of Assam. The members of the pro-talks faction of the ULFA numbering about 600 are now lodged in special rehabilitation camps called 'Nabanirman Kendras' (reconstruction centres) set up in different parts of Assam.

The dialogue with the ULFA faction led by Rajkhowa started in March last year after the top leaders of the outfit, most of whom were arrested in Bangladesh and handed over to Indian authorities, were released on bail.

The anti-talks faction of the ULFA led by its 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua, who is suspected to be based in Myanmar, has been opposed to the ongoing peace process with the faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa. Barua is still sticking to the demand for 'sovereignty of Assam' while trying to regain foothold in Assam through fresh recruitment to the outfits ranks.

The government while continuing operations against the hardliner faction of the ULFA led by Barua has kept the door open for negotiation with the faction provided it is game to give up violence. Security sources claim that Paresh Barua, who managed to flee his base in Bangladesh about two years back, is in collusion with Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence and into arms smuggling.