Representatives of the ULFA are expected to meet Manmohan Singh to seek his personal intervention to break the deadlock over peace talks.
GUWAHATI: Representatives of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam are expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday to seek his intervention to break the deadlock over holding direct peace talks between the rebel leadership and government negotiators.
"We are likely to meet the prime minister today and give him a formal letter expressing concern over the delay in holding direct peace talks and New Delhi's imposition of some fresh preconditions for the release of five jailed ULFA leaders," Indira Goswami, a Assamese writer and sought by the ULFA to mediate for talks, said.
Direct peace talks between the ULFA leadership and government peace negotiators were deadlocked with New Delhi last week seeking a formal letter from the outfit, stating that it was ready for direct talks, name a negotiating team and to specify a timeframe for the dialogue.
"We are sure to get a positive response from the prime minister to help break the deadlock for the greater interest of peace in Assam," Goswami said.
Goswami is the leader of an 11-member team of civil society leaders collectively called the People's Consultative Group nominated by the ULFA in September last year to begin exploratory talks with the government.
The main issue now blocking the start of formal face-to-face talks between ULFA and Indian government negotiators is the rebels' demand for release of five of their jailed leaders.
The ULFA maintains that the outfit was not in a position to take a decision without their five central committee leaders who are in jail and hence insisting on their release.
"The ULFA had in a written statement committed to holding talks in the Assam capital, Dispur within 48 hours if the government released its five rebel leaders. So I think there is no need for another letter from the ULFA as sought by the government," Goswami said.
On August 13, New Delhi announced a 10-day suspension of army operations against ULFA which was later extended by another 15 days. The term of halting military operations expires September 7. The ULFA, too, reciprocated the government's goodwill gesture by announcing cessation of hostilities for an indefinite period.
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