ULFA restive over 'delay' in peace process

Guwahati, June 3: The banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has started showing signs of restiveness over the ''slow progress'' of the peace initiatives even as its nominated negotiators in the People's Consultative Group (PCG) await for a date from the Centre for the third round of preparatory talks.

In the latest issue of its mouthpiece ''Freedom'', the ULFA criticised the ''delaying tactics'' of both the Assam government and the Centre on the issue of release of their jailed leaders.

The ULFA had earlier demanded release of the jailed leaders as a ''pre-condition'' for direct talks with the Centre. It stated that the opinion of its jailed top leaders were essential to take a decision regarding holding of direct talks with the Centre.

The militant group also expressed concern over ''failure'' of the the Centre to provide information about the whereabouts of 14 ULFA leaders, who went missing during the December 2003 Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) operation to evict the ULFA base from the Himalayan country.

a few days ago Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told the media here that his government did not have any objection to the release of some of the jailed ULFA leaders by the Centre. He, however, did not disclose the names of the leaders whose release was recommended by the state government to the Centre.

UNI