Date:02/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/02/stories/2008010255241200.htm

National

No talks on sovereignty issue: Gogoi

Special Correspondent

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday ruled out any discussion on the “sovereignty issue” with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) but said his government was ready to release jailed leaders if the outfit indicated its willingness for peace talks.

“Sovereignty is non-negotiable. No government, which is under the oath of the Indian Constitution, can ever discuss the issue of sovereignty. There is no point including a subject in the agenda for peace talks which the government cannot discuss,” Mr. Gogoi told reporters here when asked about ULFA chief Paresh Barua’s statement on Monday.

The ULFA chief said the mere release of the jailed leaders would not facilitate peace talks with the Centre. For the dialogue to take place, New Delhi must give in writing that the issue of the “restoration of Assam’s sovereignty” would be included in the talks agenda.

Mr. Gogoi said while on the economic front Assam made rapid progress in 2007, the year was bad on the insurgency front with militant outfits, such as the ULFA, changing tactics.

The Chief Minister expressed concern over the growing activities of the All-Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA), the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel faction) and the Karbi Longri N.C. Hills National Liberation Front (KLNLF).