Guwahati, Dec. 17: The Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) today rejected Dispur?s appeal to extend the term of its truce with the Centre, saying there was no question of waiting beyond December 21 for a ?positive decision? on the proposed Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
?We will not extend the term of the ceasefire. Having said that, I believe the state government can put the peace process back on track by taking a positive decision on the council before the truce expires on December 21,? BLT vice-chairman Kamal Muchahari told The Telegraph.
The pro-talks insurgent leader warned of a situation ?beyond our control? if his outfit called off the ceasefire. ?The state government will be responsible for any untoward incident that might take place in such a situation,? he said.
The Tarun Gogoi Cabinet last night decided to seek the opinions of all political parties on the proposal to create a territorial council and formally appeal to the Centre and the BLT to extend their ceasefire by a month. It fixed January 10 as the deadline for completion of the process.
The Cabinet decision followed an all-party meeting earlier in the day. The meeting was inconclusive because various parties sought details of the draft understanding with the BLT on the proposed BTC boundary and protection of the rights of the non-Bodos of the area. The government agreed to provide the information later.
The all-party meeting, chaired by the chief minister, advised the state government to make an appeal to the militant outfit to extend its ceasefire with the Centre.
However, Muchahari accused the Gogoi government of going back on its commitment, made at the last round of tripartite talks in New Delhi on December 5. He said the state government was party to the decision that every dispute on the proposed creation of a territorial council would be settled before the expiry of the truce.
?How can the government take a decision on the ceasefire without consulting the BLT and the Centre? By convening an all-party meeting at the eleventh hour, the state government has begun a never-ending process. This is nothing but a design to delay the creation of the BTC.?
The BLT and the Centre signed a ceasefire agreement in March 2000. As many as 17 rounds of tripartite talks have been held. The Absu and the AASU have time and again cautioned the government against prolonging the process of creating a new administrative set-up.