Army operation against ULFA to remain halted for 15 more days

New Delhi, Sep 6 (UNI) The Centre has agreed to extend for another 15 days the suspension of army operations against United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), which has not so far accepted the three conditions put forward by the government for the release of the five jailed leaders of the outlawed outfit.

This was announced here today by Assamese writer Indira Goswami, one of the two coordinators of the ULFA-appointed 11-member People's Consultative Group (PCG) of civil society leaders, who met National Security Advisor (NSA) M K Narayanan and Home Secretary V K Duggal here last night.

Ms Goswami told UNI that she requested extension of the ceasefire for 15 days. The government initially agreed only for ten days.

However, it was finally agreed to extend it for 15 more days.

On August 13, the Centre announced a 10-day suspension of army operations against ULFA and later extended it by 15 more days. The term of halting military operations expires tomorrow. ULFA, too, reciprocated the government's "goodwill gesture" by announcing cessation of hostilities for an indefinite period.

Ms Goswami said she had handed over to the NSA a sealed letter signed by the 11 members of the PCG, appointed by ULFA in September last for exploratory talks to bring the government and the militant group face-to-face across the negotiating table.

Though Ms Goswami refused to reveal the content of the letter, it is reliably learnt that the PCG members sought immediate intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to remove the "present stalemate in bringing ULFA to the negotiating table.

The release of five Central Committee members has been a major demand of the militant outfit for opening up the course for direct talks between the rebel leadership and the government negotiators.

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