Clear stand on ULFA’s demand, Gogoi asks citizen’s forum
May 3rd, 2010 - 6:50 pm ICT by IANSGuwahati, May 3 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Monday asked the Citizen’s Forum members to make clear whether they personally support or reject the demand for sovereignty the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has advocated.
“Let the intellectuals first decide on whether they accept or disapprove ULFA’s sovereignty demand and let their views be made public,” the chief minister told journalists here.
He was reacting to a recent resolution passed at a state level convention of the newly floated Citizen’s Forum that urged the government to immediately begin peace talks with the ULFA by discussing the outfit’s core demands.
“What is the point in discussing sovereignty if such a demand is not acceptable? We have always maintained sovereignty cannot be compromised…now let the intellectuals and leading citizens make their views of sovereignty public, whether they accept or reject sovereignty,” Gogoi said.
The ULFA is fighting for an independent Assam since 1979 and sovereignty has been its core demand.
The chief minister also made it clear that peace talks with the ULFA could begin soon minus their elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah.
“Why should we wait indefinitely for Paresh Baruah. If the other ULFA leaders are ready, we can begin talks,” Gogoi said.
The entire top brass of the ULFA, barring Baruah, is in jail.
The imprisoned leaders include chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, self-styled foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury, finance secretary Chitrabon Hazarika, cultural secretary Pranati Deka, and political ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain.
Meanwhile, Gogoi lauded Bangladesh for facilitating the arrest of Ranjan Daimary, the chairman of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the prime accused in the Oct 30, 2008, serial explosions that killed 100 people in Assam.
Daimary was handed over by Bangladesh to Indian authorities Saturday and is now in police remand.
“Daimary is a big catch for us and we are happy with the attitude of Bangladesh,” Gogoi said.
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- ULFA rejects peace initiative, sticks to independence - Apr 19, 2010
- Paresh Baruah rejects Citizens Forum's peace initiative - Jun 25, 2010
- Open talks with ULFA: Assam citizen's conclave - Apr 25, 2010
- ULFA splits into talk and anti-talk factions - Nov 20, 2011
- No talks on ULFA's sovereignty, says Gogoi - Apr 27, 2010
- Talks with PM on ULFA now Monday evening (Second Lead) - Jun 21, 2010
- 'ULFA to hold talks if New Delhi is sincere' - Apr 11, 2010
- Citizen's Forum to meet PM on talks with ULFA - Jun 20, 2010
- 'PM not against releasing ULFA leaders for peace talks' (Night Lead) - Jun 21, 2010
- Ready for peace talks, let ULFA take initiative: Gogoi - Apr 26, 2010
- PM's move for peace talks with ULFA hailed - Jun 22, 2010
- Vertical split in ULFA as Paresh Baruah sidelines others (News Analysis) - Apr 21, 2010
- Talks with ULFA soon, says Tarun Gogoi - Sep 29, 2010
- Peace process with ULFA on right track: Gogoi - Jul 11, 2010
Tags: assam, chief minister, deputy commander, finance secretary, forum members, gogoi, guwahati, indian authorities, intellectuals, national democratic front, oct 30, paresh baruah, peace talks, pranati deka, raju, ranjan, sovereignty, tarun, top brass, united liberation front