GUWAHATI, July 5 � The steering committee of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) has asked the Government to issue a clear and unequivocal statement forthwith on objectives and modalities of the proposed talks between it and the militant outfit ULFA, and to allay the fears of the general public on the issue.
Spokesman of the SJA steering committee Dr Hiren Gohain said in a statement here today that the committee would like to place on record its deep dismay at the way Government circles have proceeded in the matter of resumption of the stalled talks with ULFA.
The Prime Minister has assured the steering committee of his sincere desire for a negotiated settlement of the long-standing conflict. This conflict has taken a toll of thousands of lives and caused irreparable damage to normal socio-economic life of Assam.
The Chief Minister of the State also made the steering committee happy by declaring in an official meeting that he would do his best to bring about a permanent and honourable settlement.
Unfortunately, the steering committee has not noticed in the recent weeks much progress in fulfilling conditions for initiation of the dialogue. Rather, most unfortunately, conflicting and confusing statements from various Government circles have been reported in the media, putting Government�s intentions in doubt.
Thus the Union Home Minister is supposed to have suggested that talks be held within four walls of the jail in which many leaders have been imprisoned. If he means informal but productive discussions between the jailed leaders and Government emissaries designed to pave the way for formal talks, there can be no objection. But if his statement is interpreted to mean that that will be the only format for the proposed talks, that will surely be offensive and absurd.
The Chief Minister has taken a further step by announcing that he is prepared to help leaders still at large to come and take part in these talks inside the jail, practically turning the matter into a joke. These are hardly �honourable� conditions, something the Union Home Minister promised to a delegation of the committee on June 23.The people of Assam deserve a clear and unequivocal official statement on the matter, said Dr Gohain.
The release of the jailed leaders is vital to ensure the holding of a meeting of their Central Committee in conditions of freedom, where along with colleagues still at large, they can pass a resolution for peace and negotiated settlement, which will be binding on all the members of the outfit. There should not be any further confusion on this point.
It has also been argued that governments of Bangladesh and Bhutan have urged the Government of India not to release the prisoners. That means that the Indian Government is prepared to see an infringement of its sovereign right to an informed and independent judgment on the matter. This is absurd, said the SJA steering committee spokesman.
