Suspended army operations boost hopes for peace in Asom

Guwahati, Aug 14: In the wake of army temporarily suspending its operations against the banned ULFA in Asom on the eve of Independence Day, the mood in the state is that of jubilation and the hopes for an early peace have received a boost.

''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 and there have been a deluge of phone calls and statements from political parties, student organisation, non-government organisations, literary organisations and prominent personalities, since then, welcoming the move and urging ULFA to return a positive gesture.

''Army is not withdrawn but the operation has been suspended.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

The buzz on the official level is that there has been some 'positive response' from ULFA 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 are very crucial,'' a high placed source said. He indicated the proposed meeting of Peace Initiator Dr Indira Goswami and Rebati Phukan, childhood friend of ULFA Commander-in-Chief carried lot of significance.

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

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

'' I can see ray of hope. I fell let down, disgusted and upset when ULFA continued to bomb and kill innocent people,'' said Mrs Goswami. ULFA's chosen civil society representatives Peoples Consultative Group (PCG) may play a lesser role in the future course as the Centre is insisting on direct talks.

The ULFA is demanding release of five of their leaders as well as 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,'' Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had said.

''Now the ball is entirely in 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