Army withdrawn, Asom jubilant

Guwahati, Aug 14: Army has suspended Operation ULFA since last night and hopes for an early peace has resulted in a jubilant mood in Asom on the eve of Independence Day.

''All kind of army operation has been temporarily suspended since last night to give peace a chance,'' said Chief Secretary of Asom S Kabilan, who himself is the head of the Unified Command that overlook the counter insurgency operation in the state.

UNI broke this story last evening itself and this afternoon there have been a deluge of phone calls and statements from political parties, student organization, non government organizations, literary organizations and important individuals welcoming the move and pleading the ULFA to show some positive gesture to break the deadlock.

''Army is not withdrawn but the operation has been suspended.

This can prolong or become a permanent thing if ULFA behaves responsibly, shun violence and bring everything to the negotiating table'' said the Chief Secretary.

The buzz in the official level is that there has been some direct positive response from the ULFA also which has prompted the Union Home Ministry to take the sudden decision in the midst of full scale ULFA sponsored violence.

''The next 72 hours is very crucial,'' said a senior official source. He only indicated that proposed meeting of Peace Initiator Dr Indira Goswami and Rebati Phukan, childhood friend of ULFA C-in-C carried lot of significance.

Mr Phukan has been named as convenor by the ULFA in the peace process last year.

''We are meeting either National Security Adviser M K Naryanan or Union Home Secretary V K Duggal on Wednesday morning,'' said Mrs Goswami from New Delhi.

He is elated at the latest development. '' I can see ray of hope. I fell letdown, disgusted and upset when ULFA continued to bomb and kill innocent people,'' said Mrs Goswami. There is indication that ULFA's chosen civil society representatives Peoples Consultative Group (PCG) will play a lesser role in the future course as the Centre is insisting on direct talk and some sort of deal has been clinched.

The ULFA is demanding release of five of their leaders as well as demand of sovereignty. The Centre in turn has been asking for a written commitment from the ULFA about peace.

''The ULFA has never officially said that they are interested in negotiation. What is the harm if they give us a written statement? All that they have been saying that only after the release of five of their jailed ULFA leaders they can sit and take a final decision,'' said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

However, his hope is soaring after last night's development.

''Now the ball is entirely on ULFA's court. Since they are for people of Asom and love them, they should respond and direct talk should start where every thing can be discussed,'' he said.

Despite the positive gesture from the Centre, the situation has continued to remain tricky and ULFA till late last night has not slowed down any hostility targeting a security petrol party at Nalbari and a minister's home in Digboi.

UNI