Thaindian News

Shillong, June 4 (IANS) Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai Friday said the Assam government has already initiated the peace process with the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and now the government was awaiting a response from the rebel leadership to begin formal negotiations.
“After the home minister (P. Chidambaram) authorised the Assam chief minister (Tarun Gogoi) to go ahead with the talks, I understand the peace process has already been initiated. Now we are awaiting a response from them (ULFA leadership),” Pillai told journalists.

The home secretary is on a three-day visit to the Meghalaya capital to review the security situation in the northeast besides issues relating to border disputes between regional states.

Pillai said the ULFA general council had already met in the Guwahati Central Jail to discuss the issue of opening talks with the government.

“I understand the ULFA’s governing council has met inside the jail,” he said. He did not say when the meeting took place.

Almost the entire ULFA top brass is now in jail - chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, ‘foreign secretary’ Sasha Choudhury, ‘finance secretary’ Chitrban Hazarika, ‘cultural secretary’ Pranati Deka and political ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain.

ULFA vice chairman Pradeep Gogoi and publicity chief Mithinga Daimary are out on bail and drumming up public opinion for the peace talks.

The only top ULFA leader who remains elusive is self-styled commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah.

“I appeal to all ULFA leaders still outside to listen to the voices of the people of Assam and come and join the peace process. Violence cannot resolve any issues,” Pillai said.

Meanwhile, the Assam chief minister Friday said channels of communication between the ULFA and the government had been established.

“We are in touch with them (ULFA leaders) and things are progressing well,” he said.