No ceasefire without Army withdrawal: ULFA

Guwahati, Mar 8 (UNI) The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) today ruled out calling for ceasefire until the Army operations stop.

In a statement here, the banned outfit, however, said it would continue talks with the Centre through the People's Consultative Group (PCG), nominated by it.

Terming the peace process ''politico-military'' (peace talks without a ceasefire), the ULFA, in its mouthpiece ''Freedom'', flayed the Union and state governments for alleged neglect of the process.

It alleged that both governments had tried to derail the peace process by initiating measures or making statements against the group prior to the two rounds of talks held between the PCG and the Centre till now.

It said the first round of talks last year was preceded by anti-insurgency operations in Dibru-Saikhowa in Upper Asom, while the second round held last month, by ''tough'' comments by Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh.

The ULFA also came down heavily on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for ''sidelining'' the PCG-Centre talks.

It held the Army ''responsible'' for the recent Kakopathar incident in which nine people were killed, saying that the state government was a ''puppet'' in the hands of the Army.

UNI SG-MT SJC SHR BD1804