ULFA questions Govt sincerity for talks

GUWAHATI, January 20: The hope of a possible negotiation along with ceasefire with the ULFA was halted today with the latter questioning the sincerity of the Centre for talks, reports UNI. In a telephonic statement, given to local vernacular newspapers last night, ULFA chairman Aurobindo Rajkhowa and C-in-C Paresh Barua said the Centre's recent talks proved that they were not sincere. The Home Ministry had sounded that even sovereignty could be discussed with the ULFA triggering tremendous hope in entire Assam of a negotiated settlement. But the ULFA leaders described the Home Ministry's words as "not encouraging". "Two officers are giving two different statements. Besides by saying that the Government will be able to convince the futility of sovereignty in the negotiation, they have made light of the whole negotiation process", Paresh Barua said in the statement. Hopes had brightened since the ULFA had dropped two of their conditions and the Centre also tried to accommodate the demand of sovereignty in the agenda removing all hurdles. But the ULFA tried to duck the process saying they would not like to create "traffic jam" as the negotiation with the NSCN was on and they would love to wait for the results. Meanwhile, former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma, talking to newsmen here today, said that a negotiation should be held. "They are anyway talking of sovereignty. Let them come and talk at the table. But there should be negotiation," he said. He was, however, not optimistic saying that insurgency could not be resolved by talks alone because of the multiplicity of insurgent groups. "If one group agrees, two more will disagree, we have to close the nursery of the insurgents by providing them meaningful employment," he said.