The Hindu : National : Dialogue with ULFA in `third country'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 16, 2004

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National

Dialogue with ULFA in `third country'

By Sushanta Talukdar

GUWAHATI, JUNE 15. A group of eminent Assamese today called upon both the Centre and the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to open a dialogue, if necessary, in a "third country" for a solution to the decades-old insurgency problem.

Issuing a statement signed by them at a press conference here this afternoon, the internationally-acclaimed award-winning film-maker, Jahnu Barua welcomed the recent "positive remarks" of political leaders from Assam and the ULFA chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa, on the possibility of a dialogue and the need for a political solution.Litterateur and Gnanpeeth Award winner, Indira Raisom Goswamu, journalist and editor, Sanjoy Hazarika, and the non-resident Assamese in the United States, Atul Sarma, were among the signatories. They urged both sides to talk with an open mind and determination to close what they described as a traumatic chapter.Insisting that urgent dialogue was a must for justice, dignity and peace, they said the violence of the past decades had disrupteddevelopment and caused the continuing isolation of people who remained poor and marginalised.

"Assam and the northeast are weary of violence. We need peace, stability and freedom from fears. Too much blood has been spilt. Too many lives have been lost, too many tragedies have taken place in the past decades. As a result, development has been disrupted and traditions have suffered. It is a time for healing and justice, peace with justice and dignity," said the statement.

The appealcame after the Union Minister of State for Defence and Parliamentary Affairs, Bijoy Krishna Handique, announced at a public meeting at Guwahati, that the Centre was ready to hold peace talks with the ULFA in a foreign country, which is one of the three conditions imposed by the outfit.

The other two conditions are: the issue of "Assam's sovereignty" must be discussed and the Army withdrawn.

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