The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) on Saturday announced that they are going to sit for unconditional talks with the government on February 10 while confessing that the killing of NGO activist Sanjoy Ghose and the bomb blast of Dhemaji on the Independence Day, in which children were killed, were mistakes.
The Ulfa foreign secretary, Sashadhar Choudhury, however, clarified, “All killings and deaths during our struggle are absolute mistakes — be it the Dhemaji blast or Sanjay Ghose killing. And this applies to incidents executed by the Ulfa as well as the government.”
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, the Ulfa leaders also defended their decision to take up arms for achieving its objective of an “independent” Assam.
Avoiding a direct reply to a pointed question whether the Ulfa’s core demand of “sovereignty for Assam” would be discussed, Choudhury said, “We have decided to go for unconditional talks. Through talks, the process for resolution of Assam’s problems will be started.” The first round of talks will be held at New Delhi on February 10.
He further said, “Respecting the wishes of the people of Assam and the Jatiya Abhibartan (intellectuals), we have decided to go for talks.” About the status of elusive Ulfa commander-in chief Paresh Baruah, Ulfa vice-president Pradip Gogoi, who was also present, said, “We are communicating the decision of the general council meeting to our commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah and we are sure he would endorse our views. In fact, Baruah is bound to accept the decision of the general council.” In case of the Ulfa chief going against the decision, he said that the outfit would look into the matter.
With Assembly elections around the corner, there are fears of Ulfa rebels being used in elections by the ruling Congress party.
“Let us make it very clear that we shall have no role to play in the elections and we shall keep away from politics at this point of time,” said the Ulfa leaders reiterating that outfit will not go against the people’s aspirations. Asked about different ethnic armed groups fighting for separate homelands in Assam, Choudhury emphasised the need for all tribes and communities of the state to stand united for the development of the state.
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Dhaka hands over two outfit leaders
AGE CORRESPONDENT
GUWAHATI
Feb. 5: Two top Ulfa leaders who were detained in Bangladesh were pushed back to India on Saturday through the international border in Meghalaya where the Border Security Force took their custody.
Security sources told this newspaper that self-style captain of Ulfa Antu Chaudang and second lieutenant Pradeep Chetia were pushed back to India through Dawki border on Saturday morning.
This has been seen as a major setback for the elusive Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah as Antu Chaudang was the only prominent Ulfa leader coordinating the operations in Bangladesh.
Security sources had claimed earlier that Chaudang was seriously wounded in a motorcycle accident in December and was undergoing treatment in Bangladesh.
The Assam police team has also been sent to take over the custody of Ulfa leaders from the BSF.