From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: The anti-talks faction of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) led by fugitive commander-in-chief Paresh Barua has changed the name of the outfit to United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent) or ULFA(I) in tune with its ‘uncompromising’ quest for liberation of Assam from the clutches of ‘colonial Indian rule’.
The outfit has reiterated that it would agree to talk to the enemy (India) for solution of Assam-‘India political conflict’ only when the discussion is based on its demand for a ‘sovereign Assam’ and held in a third country in presence of a UN representative.
It was disclosed in a statement e-mailed to the media here by the outfit’s self-styled chairman Abhijit Asom. The statement said these decisions were taken in the executive committee meeting of the outfit held in an undisclosed location from April 2 to 6 last. It stated that it should be identified not mere a group but a revolutionary organization aspiring for a ‘sovereign Assam’.
The ULFA(I) further decided to use phrases from the languages spoken various ethnic communities in Assam for communication within the group so that it is considered as representing all the ethnic groups in the State. To start with the outfit has decided to introduce a phrase from Rabha tribe dialect in one of the outfit’s internal command phrase.
According to a security source, the step is obviously aimed at regaining ground among various ethnic groups in the State by the outfit whose influence is on the wane after a larger section of senior leaders including some founder members had come out to hold dialogue with the Government of India under the leadership of Arabinda Rajkhowa.
In another decision the outfit has entrusted additional full-fledged responsibility of vice-chairman to its commander-in-chief Paresh Barua while one of its senior leaders, Jibon Asom, has been appointed as the new finance secretary of the outfit.