From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: The Government of India has responded ‘positively’ to the appeal of the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front Assam (ULFA) for extradition of the outfit’s general secretary Anup Chetia who is now lodged in a jail in Bangladesh, to facilitate his participation in the on-going peace negotiation.
The leaders of the pro-talks faction of the ULFA led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa on Monday sat for the third round of peace talks with the Government of India representatives led by the Union Home Secretary R K Singh in New Delhi.
“The talks were constructive and positive. It was a fruitful discussion,” R.K. Singh told reporters here.
“I think we have achieved very good progress in the meeting,” he said.
“Today’s talks were focused on reviewing the progress so far made in the peace process besides shedding light on our charter of demands.”
“The Government of India has also responded positively to our demand for extradition of our general secretary Anup Chetia from Bangladesh to facilitate his participation in the dialogue process. We have been told that from now onwards the talks will deal with our various demands in phases. The next round of talks is likely in May-June this year,” ULFA vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi informed The Tribune over phone from New Delhi.
The seven-member delegation of the pro-talk faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) leaders led by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa included Pradip Gogoi, ‘foreign secretary’ Sasa Choudhury, deputy commander in chief Raju Baruah, finance secretary Chitraban Hazarika, cultural secretary Pranati Deka and spokesman Mithinga Daimary.
The pro-talk faction of the outfit which had been holding talks with the Government of India since last year to bring lasting peace to the state, had already submitted a 12-point charter of demands to the Government of India.
The ULFA doves have entered into formal peace talks with the government after a 32-year-old violent insurgent movement that started way back on April 7, 1979. The pro-talks ULFA leaders signed the Suspension of Operation pact with the government on September 3 last year.
The fugitive commander in chief Paresh Barua who heads the hardliner faction of the ULFA, has remained opposed to any dialogue with the government till the ‘sovereignty’ issue is not included in the agenda of dialogue.
Paresh Barua is suspected to be taking shelter in a fresh base of the outfit in Myanmar with support from Naga rebel group NSCN-K.
Barua had to flee Bangladesh about couple of years back to escape the crackdown launched by Bangladesh security forces there.