The banned United Liberation Front of Assam on Friday demanded release of its top leaders from jail to do the spadework to hold talks with the government, and clarified that it had never stated in any point of time that talks could be held without commander-in-chief Paresh Barua.
The decision was announced in a statement issued by the outfit's central publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary, who was recently released on bail along with vice chairman Pradip Gogoi.
The statement from the ULFA came after the jailed central committee members, including 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain, 'foreign secretary' Sasha Choudhury and 'finance secretary' Chitrabon Hazarika, 'cultural secretary' Pranati Deka, 'deputy commander in chief' Raju Barua held discussions with the outfit's 'vice-president' Pradeep Gogoi and 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary, in Guwahati Central jail premises.
Daimary in the statement issued on an ULFA letterhead, urged the government to create a conducive atmosphere for taking the talks process forward. It asked the government to release the jailed ULFA leaders so that the central committee can meet in a free manner and decide on the next course of action.
"We welcome Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's announcement of the need for a political process in the state followed by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his cabinet's decision to hold talks," the statement said lauding the initiative taken by the citizens' forum in urging both the ULFA as well as the government to sit for unconditional talks.
Daimary said, "ULFA could take a collective decision on holding talks only if its leaders are released from jail. At no point of time, had we said talks could be held without Paresh Barua. Any final decision on holding talks will be taken by the general council of the ULFA."
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on May 26 said that Assam cabinet had decided to hold talks with ULFA even without the presence of Barua. Assam cabinet took the decision after Chidambaram entrusted Gogoi to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of political process with insurgent outfits in the state.
