Date:09/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/09/stories/2008070961021300.htm

National

3 expelled ULFA leaders address rally

Sushanta Talukdar

They vow to go ahead with their mission of mobilising opinion in favour of peace talks

Guwahati: A day after the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) expelled three leaders of ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companies of its “28 Battalion” — Mrinal Hazarika, Moon Bora and Joon Sonowal — and asked the people not to extend cooperation to them, thousands turned up at a rally addressed by these leaders at Kakopathar in upper Assam’s Tinsukia district.

Call to people

Addressing the rally that was organised under the banner of Nirjatan Birodhi Aikya Mancha, they exhorted the people to support their cause of putting pressure on both the government and the ULFA central leadership to sit for unconditional peace talks.

The ULFA expelled the three for their “unauthorised declaration of unilateral truce and initiating a dialogue process with the Government of India in violation of the ULFA constitution.”

Reacting to their expulsion, the leaders said that they expected such decision but vowed to go to the people to mobilise opinion in favour of peace talks between the government and the ULFA’s central leadership.

The leaders said that they received support from various organisations and intellectuals in creating an atmosphere conducive for peace talks.

Their expulsion would not deter them from carrying on with the mission, they added.