[Assam] Assamese are not interested who has climb down and who has climbed up. What is expected is India’s TOTAL commitment on the restoration of the Sovereignty of Assam. Are you listening India?

[Bartta Bistar]

*Centre open to talks with ULFA
**Asks rebel group to specify dates
**Tribune New Service *

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061114/main7.htm

New Delhi, November 13
In a slight climbdown, the Centre today asked the outlawed outfit ULFA
(United Liberation Front of Asom) to specify "only exact date" for
resumption of direct talks to restore peace in Assam.

Without reiterating its pre-conditions of pre-notification of the
composition of the ULFA team and representation of only top leaders of the
outfit in the talks, the Centre in a meeting with the ULFA's peace initiator
Indira Goswami has asked only for a letter specifying the exact date for
direct talks.

"The government now wants only a solid letter confirming the date for
holding talks," Ms Goswami, accompanied by Rebati Phukan, another rebel
mediator and a childhood friend of ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah,
told newspersons after a meeting with National Security Adviser M K
Narayanan this evening.

Though the Centre gave a positive signal about its intention to begin direct
talks with ULFA, it made it clear that the operations against the banned
outfit will not stop unless and until there was a written commitment for
holding direct talks with the government.

The Central Government had announced a major counter-insurgency offensive
against the ULFA, after two powerful explosions in Guwahati killed 14
persons and wounded 40 others last weekend.

Police in Assam has blamed the blasts on the ULFA but the group has denied
its involvement.

Peace talks with ULFA's peace initiators had broken down after New Delhi
called off a six-week ceasefire on September 24 blaming the outfit of
stepping up attacks, extortions and targetting innocents.





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