Date:21/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/21/stories/2003012102731200.htm

National

Truce with BLT to continue

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JAN. 20. Building upon the mutual trust and cordiality forged in the recent past, the Centre and the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) today agreed to continue the cessation of hostilities between security forces and the insurgent outfit by another month.

At the tripartite talks involving the representatives of the Centre, the Assam Government and the BLT, it was decided that the ongoing ceasefire would remain in force till February 21.

According to a Home Ministry official, yet another round of tripartite talks would be held in early February to resolve some of the outstanding issues.

It was stated that the talks were held in an atmosphere of "cordiality and mutual trust'' and took stock of the progress made towards an amicable resolution of the issues relating to the Bodo-dominated areas of Assam.

Seizing the initiative of the Centre for peace talks, the BLT had unilaterally suspended its operations in July 1999 and had said that it would abjure the path of violence, avoid killings, kidnappings and extortion and agree to abide by the Constitution if the Centre also suspended the operations of the security forces against it. More than ten rounds of tripartite talks have been held so far. The issues raised by the BLT include abolition of the existing Bodoland Armed Constabulary and creation of a Bodoland Territorial Council.