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Call for talks without pre-conditions

By Staff reporter - 15 Sep 2010 12:00 AM GMT

GUWAHATI, April 24 � The day long state level convention organized by prominent citizens of Assam today called upon both the Government and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to come forward for a negotiated settlement of the problems without any pre-condition. The convention also appealed to both the parties to come forward for talks without any further delay.

The convention, held at the Pragjyoti ITA complex here, in its draft resolution, said that the top leaders of both Government and the ULFA should sit together to resolve all the issues. The convention called upon the Government to give free passage to the ULFA leaders and demanded that the jailed leaders of the militant outfit should be released to facilitate holding of meeting of the central committee of the ULFA to take decisions regarding talks with the ULFA. The convention also said that no legal procedure should be initiated against leaders of the ULFA till a settlement comes out.

The convention called upon both the Government and the ULFA to expedite the process of negotiated settlement. If the Government shows its willingness and sincerity for talks, the ULFA should also shun violence to create a congenial atmosphere for talks.

The convention, chaired by a presidium headed by Dr Hiren Gohain, formed a steering committee for facilitating the peace process. The members of the steering committee are Dr Hiren Gohain, Dr Nirmal Kumar Choudhury,

Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami, Hiranya Kumar Bhattacharya, Harekrishna Deka, Rohini Baruah, Indibor Deuri, Khursed Alam and Ratneswar Basumatary. Dilip Patgiri and Lachit Bordoloi will work as the secretaries of the steering committee.

The steering committee will finalize the resolutions by incorporating suggestions from different sections of people and the committee has sought suggestions within seven days.

The steering committee will also aid the ULFA in the process of negotiations with the Government. It will form expert committees for studying basic issues like right of the indigenous people over the natural resources, economic development, problems like flood and erosion and infiltration etc. The expert committees will be asked to finalize reports within two to three months so that the same can be placed before the centre during talks.

The steering committee will move the State and the Central Governments to start the process of talks and a delegation will go to New Delhi soon to approach the Centre in this regard. The convention also called upon the people to mobilize public opinion to mount pressure on the Government to come forward for talks.

The draft resolution further said that the basic flaws in the state system led to the long standing problems., while, Dr Gohain made it clear that the initiative for the convention was taken on behalf of the concerned citizens who do not side with either the Government or the ULFA.

Representatives of 93 organizations of the state including political parties and students� bodies took part in the convention and stressed the need for talks to solve the problem of insurgency. The main thrust of majority of the participants was that the demand for sovereignty should be included in the agenda for talks.