Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said it was imperative for the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to sign a formal suspension of operation (SoO) and deposit weapons before the peace talks start with the government.
"Like all other insurgent groups in truce with the government, the banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) too would have to enter into a formal agreement for SoO and surrender weapons before starting dialogue with the government of India," he told reporters.
The Chief Minister said the peace process with the ULFA was progressing well and Centre’s peace interlocutor P C Haldar was in constant touch with the outfit’s leadership, led by its ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa.
"Once they (the ULFA faction) have decided to hold formal talks, they will have to surrender and enter into agreement of SoO with the government," Mr Gogoi added.
Stating that insurgency was on the wane, the Chief Minister added that the problem was far from being solved as some factions like anti-talks group of ULFA led by Paresh Barua, anti-talks faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the newly-formed Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT) were still outside the ambit of the talks.
Recruitment of youths and extortion activities were still being carried out by the outfits, he added.
"We have identified the areas where such recruitment are taking place and taking steps to check it," he said.
On the NDFB (anti-talks faction), led by its jailed chief Ranjan Daimary, Mr Gogoi said the outfit has expressed its willingness for talks.
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He said the NDFB faction had conveyed through the Bodoland People’s Convention (BPC) emissaries, who were accompanied by two of the MLAs from Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), that the outfit was interested in meeting him within this month.
The government forces are observing suspension of operation against the other faction of the NDFB led by Govinda Basumatary and cadres of this faction are now lodged in designated camps.
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