ULFA open for talks with Centre

Guwahati, Dec 26 (UNI) The banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is once again harping on its demand for restoration of sovereignty of Asom and hoped for revival of the peace initiative for a solution to the conflict in 2007.

In statement e-mailed to the media here, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa reiterated that the solution to the Asom problem would be possible only through restoration of sovereignty in the state.

He called upon all political and non-political organisations in the state to contribute towards finding a solution to the conflict.

The ULFA leader also registered the group's opposition to the 'Greater Nagalim' as demanded by the NSCN-IM even as the general secretary of the outfit Thuingaleng Muivah is scheduled to visit Nagaland during the New Year.

Earlier, the ULFA-nominated People's Consultative Group (PCG) stated that there was nothing to go overboard over the latest offer of safe passage to top ULFA leaders from the Prime Minister.

The PCG maintains that the 'safe passage' offer was unlikely to end the current deadlock in the peace process unless New Delhi released five senior ULFA leaders from jail.

The ULFA chairman decried 'cosmetic protests' registered by political parties of Asom against the 'Greater Nagalim' that proposes to include large parts of eight districts of Assam.

The 'Greater Nagalim' single administrative block for Nagas living in the region, is one of the key demands of the NSCN-IM that is engaged in a peace process with the Centre.

The proposed map of the 'Greater Nagalim' includes many parts of Asom, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. All these states have registered their protest against the 'Greater Nagalim' design while the protests are more audible in Manipur than in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The ULFA chairman also criticised the Asom government and the Centre for overlooking Nagaland's bid to encroach upon Asom's territory. The militant group alleged that Nagaland government had so far set up four administrative sub-divisions.

UNI XC BA AKP1121