GUWAHATI, Jan 11 � The proposed ULFA-Government peace talks have taken a new turn with a forum representing the victims of the militant group�s activities demanding that it should also be made party to the parleys for an amicable and permanent solution.
The Terror Victims Family Forum, Assam, also demanded that the Government, at any cost, must ensure that the persons responsible for the killing of innocent people do not get away easily and are punished under the provisions of law so that no other individual or group takes a cue from the militant group�s activities.
Alleging an indifferent attitude on the part of the Government towards the victim families, the forum threatened to boycott the ensuing Republic Day by resorting to mass protest in the capital city.
The forum has been floated to address the grievances of the hundreds of families hit by insurgent activities in the State.
�From Prime Minister to the Chief Minister, we have written to everyone highlighting the plight and demand of the victims and their families but to no avail. If we do not get a respectable reply from the State Government or the Governor before January 20, we will resort to mass protest for 24 hours beginning from 4 pm on January 25,� president of the forum Brajen Hazarika told mediapersons here today.
The forum also demanded that ULFA chief Arabinda Rajkhowa should be put behind bars again for violating the restrictions imposed by the Special TADA Court, Guwahati.
�Rajkhowa, after coming out of the jail on bail delivered public speeches highlighting the activities of the proscribed outfit and even sought public opinion whether they should get back to the arms struggle if the desired result is not fetched, which we feel, is an utter violation of the court�s order,� he pointed out.
Hazarika was also of the opinion that the peace talk should involve representation from the intellectual section to carry out the proposed talks on behalf of the outfit.
�We do not think that the ULFA leaders have enough prudence to carry out the dialogue with the Government of India. The peace talk is about the people of the State and that is why we feel that somebody acceptable to the common masses should pursue the matter with the Centre,� he asserted.
The forum also flayed a section of intellectuals, stating, �A section of the intellectuals were desperate about the release of the ULFA leaders for the last one year or so. If any innocent person is henceforth killed by the militants in the State, those intellectuals would be held responsible for the same.�
It also demanded adequate compensation for the families of the victims as is done in Jammu and Kashmir and the Naxal-hit areas.
