[Assam] Peace talks with ULFA was a wrong move: Assam CM - TOI

[Barua, Rajen]

>Gogoi assured foolproof security for the National Games.
 
The question is whether GOA should be concerned about security of Assam
or National Games.?
I did not hear anything about security of Assam against ULFA.
Who will do that?
 
Rajen Barua

  _____  

From: assam-bounces at assamnet.org [mailto:assam-bounces at assamnet.org] On
Behalf Of Ram Sarangapani
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 10:29 AM
To: ASSAMNET
Subject: [Assam] Peace talks with ULFA was a wrong move: Assam CM - TOI


There were a number of people in the Govt. and also the Governor of
Assam, who expressed serious reservations before the talks and also
regarding the Govt. mandated lull in the fighting. 
 
I am not sure what this tells us of a CM who seems to have realized just
now that the GOI and the GOA have been taken for a ride by ULFA.
Hopefully it is once burnt, twice shy for the CM,the GOI, and the people
of Assam  and it remains to be seen if the ULFA ( and its ardent
friends) can fool the Govt. and the people once again?
 
--Ram
 
 
NEW DELHI: Indirect talks with the separatist group United Liberation
Front of Asom (ULFA) through the People's Consultative Group (PCG) was
an incorrect step, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Monday. 

"It was a wrong move by the central government to continue peace talk
with the ULFA. They got their sweet time to regroup themselves and now
they are again spreading terror," said Gogoi while addressing a press
conference on the 33rd National Games. 

The Feb 9-18 National Games - being held after four years - have been a
doubtful starter after ULFA called upon the people of Assam to boycott
the games. ULFA's recent terror attacks have killed more than 80 people.


Gogoi said he was also to be blamed for the wrong step. 

"I am also to be partly blamed for this process because the central
government had taken me into confidence for the talks with the ULFA," he
said. 

Gogoi assured foolproof security for the National Games. 

"I can assure you all that there will be foolproof security for the
National Games. It will be much bigger then the 32nd National Games that
took place in Hyderabad in 2002." 

ULFA had set up the PCG, comprising of prominent Assamese citizens in
September 2005, to start negotiations with the federal government. 

The peace talks broke down last September when the central government
refused to extend a ceasefire as ULFA did not give a written commitment
to hold direct talks with the former. Gogoi said nothing could be
achieved by gun and by creating terror in the minds of the people of
Assam. 

He cited the example of a former separatist group Bodo Liberation Tigers
(BLT) who are now a part of his government. 

"BLT was also a similar out fit like the ULFA. But we sat down with BLT
and they surrendered and also went onto fight elections. Now we have BLT
members as a part of our government." 
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