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Talks yet to make progress

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Oct 20 � Not much progress has yet been made in the process of talks with the militant groups, which already signed cease-fire pacts with the Government for solution of their problems through dialogues. However, on the positive side, the Group of Ministers (GoM) formed to examine the demands of the militant groups under cease-fire, has completed its reports in regards to two outfits.

Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that both the Central and State Governments have already ruled out the possibility of further division of Assam and the demands raised by some of the militant groups for creation of separate states have been rejected. But now the question is what the Central and State Governments can offer the militant groups instead of separate states and whether the Government's proposals are acceptable to the militant groups.

Sources pointed out that former Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief PC Haldar, who has been appointed as the interlocutor by the Centre for holding talks with the militant groups of Assam, is holding series of informal talks with the leaders of militant groups like the pro-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), DHD, DHD(J), KLNLF and the UPDS to know their views. Sources said that Haldar would submit a report to the Central and State Governments after completing the process of holding informal talks with the militant groups and final settlement would be arrived at in tripartite meetings involving the outfits and Central and State Governments.

However, at some point of time, the Government would have to bring some of the groups in the negotiation process together. For example, the DHD and DHD (J) have same area of operation, that is North Cachar Hills and signing accords separately with the groups may result in complications. Same is the case with the UPDS and the KLNLF, sources pointed out. Sources however, expressed the hope that it should not be difficult to bring the groups together for talks as the same interlocutor has been talking to them.

Meanwhile, the GoM has submitted its report on what the Government can offer the DHD and the same report can be a yardstick for the DHD (J) also. The report has already been forwarded to the Government of India. However, even if the Government of India accepts the suggestions made by the GoM, it remains to be seen whether the DHD and the DHD (J) accepts the same, sources pointed out.

The GoM has also completed its report with suggestions on what the Government can offer the UPDS. The report will be sent to the Government of India after it is approved by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

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