ULFA wants peaceful, negotiated settlement

Guwahati, Jan 12 (PTI) The ULFA wants a peaceful andnegotiated solution to the 30-year-old conflict in Assam, its''finance secretary'' Chitrabon Hazarika, last of the group''scentral committee members to be freed on bail, said today.

After his release from Guwahati Central Jail, Hazarikatold waiting newsmen that he had discussions with the Centre''sinterlocutor P C Haldar while in jail.

Asked if ULFA ''commander-in-chief'' Paresh Baruah willparticipate in the peace talks, Hazarika said since he himselfwas in jail he was unaware of it, but expressed confidencethat the elusive leader will come forward.

Referring to the illegal influx from Bangladesh,Hazarika said special measures will have to be taken againstinfiltration.

Hazarika was caught by Bangladesh security forces inDhaka along with ULFA ''chairman'' Arabinda Rajkhowa and otherson November 30, 2009 and subsequently lodged in the GuwahatiCentral Jail.

Earlier, ULFA central committee members Rajkhowa,''vice chairman'' Pradip Hazarika, ''deputy c-in-c'' Raju Baruah,''foreign secretary'' Sashadhar Choudhury, besides Hazarika,Pranati Deka and ''central publicity secretary'' MithingaDaimary, ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain, and the group''s eastzone in-charge Ramu Mech were released on bail.

''General secretary'' Anup Chetia is in a Bangladeshjail.

Two other central committee members, AshantaBaghphukan and Robin Neog were declared missing after the 2003''Operation All Clear'' in Bhutan against ULFA camps on itssoil.

Another commander of the armed wing Jibon Moran isstill absconding.