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07/25/2006: "6 member NSCN-IM delegation leaves for Bangkok talks Kuknalim.com"

6 member NSCN-IM delegation leaves for Bangkok talks Kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, July 24:: A six-member NSCN-IM delegation will leave for Bangkok today to assist their Chairman Isac Chishi Swu and General Secretary Th Muivah during the peace talks and extension of current ceasefire with the Centre, scheduled to begin on July 28.

Official sources said the delegation, led by senior NSCN-IM leader Brig V Atem, will comprise of Q. Chishi Swu, Q. Tuccu, A P Shimrey, Tongmeth Konyak and Lungalang. The Governmet, on the other hand, will be led by the leader of the Ministerial team Oscar Fernandes, Interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah and senior officials and bureaucrats.

Meanwhile, the NSCN-IM has denied that it has threatened to abrogate the nine-year-old ceasefire with the Centre if it fails to modify truce ground rules. The extension of the cease-fire will only be decided in the July 28 and 29 talks in Bangkok. (UNI)
Sovereignty core issue at Naga peace talks Dimapur: Reuters Gulfnews
A powerful rebel group in Nagaland has hardened its position ahead of peace talks this week. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland, Isaac-Muivah faction (NSCN-I-M) said it would place freedom ahead of the extension of a truce on the agenda. Sovereignty of Naga tribal rebels would be the core issue at the two-day talks in Bangkok beginning on Friday, a top leader said.
"Extension of ceasefire [that is due to expire on July 31] is not on the main agenda at the coming round of talks," Rh. Raising, a senior leader of the NSCN-IM, said.
"The focus of the coming round of talks in Bangkok will be on the federal relationship between two entities - India and the Nagas," Raising said late on Sunday in Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland state. Naga rebels have been fighting since 1947 for a separate homeland that includes parts of the predominantly Christian state of Nagaland as well as some neighbouring states inhabited by the tribals.
More than 20,000 people died in the insurgency until a ceasefire in 1997 and the rebels and the Indian Government have held several rounds of talks since. But there has been little progress on the central rebel demands - unification of Naga-dominated areas in northeast India, which is fiercely opposed by other ethnic groups in the region, and ultimately independence.
"Our federation can't exist within the Indian Union or under the Indian Constitution," said the rebel leader. "We are for independence, nothing else will satisfy us."
NPF distances itself from Kohima firing episode The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, JULY 24 (MExN): The NPF has once again clarified on the firing incident which took place near the official residence of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and pointed out that the consequences that led to the arrest of cadres from the NSCN (K) and allowing the NSCN (IM) cadres to go scot free was ‘beyond the NPF’s perception’. “The police according to reports, swung into action as soon as the firing incident took place and apprehended the persons found with arms on them, as it was their duty. As such, the NPF had nothing to do with the current case or with the duties of the State police and its lapses, if any”, stated Akang Ao, Spokesperson, NPF Central Office in a press communiqué.
The party spokesperson also clarified that the earlier press release issued by R. Paphino was on behalf of the NPF as a whole and was issued in the capacity of the Press Secretary, in good faith without the intention of jeopardizing either of the factions. “Hence the NPF request all Naga national workers not to misconceive and misinterpret the goodwill of the NPF party”, Akang stated.
The NPF stated that as a Naga political party, it will continue to work in the same spirit and principle with all cross-sections of the Naga people with good humor.
Stating that the NPF came to power along with pre-poll alliance partners with the mandate of the people and formed the DAN government in the State, the party spokesperson pointed out that the DAN government with all humility and sincerity declared its political agenda of ‘equi-closeness’ in order to maintain cordial relationship with all Naga national workers and to forge ahead with a negotiated settlement on the Naga issue. “The NPF whatsoever does not have discrimination or partiality with any of the factions in as such as equi-closeness is concerned and peace process with the government of India for amicable settlement of the Naga political problem” it stated.
It also stated that the firing incident that occurred near the CM’s residence on July 10 was unfortunate. “The NPF’s cry for peace is perpetually disturbed by such incidences. Disturbing the peaceful atmosphere, in any manner, for the peace loving citizens is unwanted and therefore, the NPF through its press secretary issued a press release in this regard”, the party clarified.
The party also stated that as per protocol, the Chief Minister has the armed police force to protect him from any impending danger and eventuality. It pointed out that apart from the police, paramilitary force being deployed by the State government, the Chief Minister did not require keeping personnel of any faction or illegal security, either private or public. “As such, the NPF denounce the article accusing the Chief Minister of having NSCN (IM) as his security guards, and term the article as illogical”, the NPF stated.
AR busts NSCN IM's detention cell at Ukl By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Jul 24 : Troops of 13 Assam Rifles raided a detention centre set up by the NSCN (IM) at Ukhrul yesterday and rescued five youths who were being kept captive there. In a statement, PRO of Assam Rifles said that existence of the ‘jail complex’ once again highlights the parallel governance and illegal activities carried out by the NSCN (IM) at Ukhrul.
Earlier on January 5 this year, AR troops carried out a similar raid in the same jail complex in which two NSCN (IM) cadres were arrested along with a huge cache of arms and war like stores.
During yesterday's raid four NSCN (IM) cadres were rounded up said the statement and identified them as SS Sgt Maj Jiten Jo (27) of Matikai, Phek, SS Cpl Danny Shimray (22) of Upper Hundung, Pvt Min- thing (20) of Pushing and Pvt Imu Pove (18) of Haflong.
One 9 mm carbine, .303 rifle, two mobile phones and a large quantity of ammunition, ration and incriminating documents were recovered.
The five youths rescued were released through the police, said the statement and added that though the NSCN (IM) claims that it is an internal matter and jail complex is a traditional requirement for rogue civilians, the operation proves their illegal activities.
Manipur on alert as Naga report sparks ire Yumnam Rupachandra The Statesman
IMPHAL, July 24: The twin capital districts of Imphal West and East have been put under alert and prohibitory order of 144 CrPC anticipating trouble after reports claiming HRD minister Arjun had agreed to Naga student organisations’ proposal of allowing Manipur-based schools in Naga dominated districts to be affiliated to Nagaland Board.
After the report, which appeared in a Kolkatta-based English newspaper, volunteers of social organisations and student bodies of Manipur came out on street last night and burnt effigies of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi and HRD minister Mr Arjun Singh. Chief minister Mr Okram Ibobi Singh called local media late at night to clarify that the news item was without any basis and that Mr Arjun Singh, with whom he contacted at 10.30 pm denied that he had gave assurance to Naga delegates as reported. The chief minister called a Press meet today to iterate what the HRD minister conveyed to him last night.
The HRD minister told the chief minister that he never told the delegates anything remotely connected to what was reported. According to the chief minister, the Union minister assured him that he would not flout the Constitution by overriding the state government in subjects such as education which is a state subject. The Union minister suggested booking the news paper for the report, the CM told a local daily.
The chief minister clarified that Manipur government have never tried to impose the Meetei Mayek on the tribals as accused by Naga organisations. “Students in the hills have the option to take either the indigenous script of roman script,” he said.
Police have, however, been kept on alert and prohibitory orders promulgated in the twin capital city of Imphal East and West. DC Imphal East, speaking to The Statesman said: “Because of tension prohibitory orders have been clamped. Assembly of public has been banned under the order which would remain in force till normalcy returns.”
The United Committee of Manipur, which spearheaded the agitation over extension of ceasefire (between NSCN-IM and Indian troops) in Manipur, in a letter faxed to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has asked for his clarification on the matter. A “urgent” letter has asked the Centre to stop encouraging politicisation of education. Information secretary of UCM Yaima Saha in a separate Press release has charged Nagaland-based NSF of trying to disintegrate Manipur.
The move, Yaima Saha said, would not affect the students of Nagaland or children of those behind the move, as their children study outside, but simple villagers of Manipur. Besides Nagaland Board text books do not have languages of Manipur tribe in their curriculum and they would be forced to study another language.
Some thoughts on the Indo-Naga Peace Talks By N. Chamroy Sangai Express
If the frequent claims of the Prime Minister’s Principal Interlocutor, K. Padmanibaiah to settle the Naga Issue ‘within the Union’ or ‘ Within the Constitution of India’ is any indicator, GOI is not in a hurry to solve the protracted Indo-Naga conflict. In Indian context the terms within the Union or the Constitution is a vague political motion which can also mean almost nothing. I feel therefore by repeating this intransigent phrases by the GOI, she is saying nothing substantial, at least at the moment. Maybe she still wants to in the words of Shyam Dutta, ‘wait and watch’.
The Constitution of India is invariably subject to change by ammendments. Article 2 of the Indian Constitution for example provides Parliament to admit into the Union or establish new states on such terms and conditions as it sees fit. India’s membership to the Commonwealth is based on an extra Constitutional contratual arrangement entered an terminal at will. So, trying to limit the Indo-Naga within a frame work which is dynamic and flexible is absurbed, technically speaking and lacks sagacity. The terms within the union of India was used as the operative concept to mean that a political solution much be on the basis of Nagas acceptance of union with India or to quote the Nagaland Peace Mission, ‘the Nagas participation in the union of India in their own violations’. It is also pertainent to note here that Sikkim was admited as an "associate state" without being a member of the Union of India in 1974 by inserting a new article 2-A by the Constitution ( Thirty-fifth Ammendment) Act. 1974.
Therefore, these legal notions should not become the political impediment in the present Indo-Naga Peace process. Instead of desperate attempts to limit the talks in a precint, the negotiating parties should rather invest time to define the new future relationships. Priority needs to be given to the substances instead of the form or status. Casting and recasting the desire, aspirations, expediencies, needs, necessities etc. base on Indo-Naga experiences, the talks are expected to deliver a mosaic political pattern and to which giving a clincher is but corollary.
India’s relationship with other entities is provided in Article51 of Indian Constitution. It requires GOI to promote International Peace and Security, maintain just and hounorable relations between nations... and to encourage settlement of International dispute by arbitration. India’s membership in the UN, NAM, SAARC etc. are manifestation of this constitutional desire for peace and harmonous relationship with other nations. While on the other hand Naga’s have realised that there are many non-legal and moral limitation on sovereignty. The present International conditions of inter dependence and the necessity to obey the International Law and obligations effect the absolute sovereignty of the nation. For the Nagas, Sovereignty lies with the people and therefore, an inter dependence relationship of mutual benefit of both the negotiating parties was felt desirable. Naga’s Chief negotiator, Th. Muivah, General Secy of NSCN (IM) had in his interview with BBC for this reason said that Naga wants to have a federal relationship with India.
This is not a new move though. A loose federal relationship between the Nagas and India had also been moted before in the sixties by the Nagaland Peace Mission. Even in recent times a federal movement was launched in Assam in the 1994 comprising of about 50 movements in India including Akali Dal to assert their "voluntary rights to association and secession".
India basic interest in Naga areas is her border. Her aim was strategic and defensive. But of late with the emergence of many struggling people asserting their right to self determination India fears that any settlement with the Nagas on this line will encourage them and jeopardize the Integrity of India. This fear is paramount today. At present GOI is also engaged in truce for dialogue with the Garos, ULFA, Bodos etc. The fear of setting precedence is not without justification by any standard. But the bigger question is could these issue and problems be wished by sitting on it? By legal assimilation? No, A creative solution is needed sooner. The need for a sincere and collective effort of both India and Naga people is needed like never before. Since the negotiation itself is dynamic and has variables, what transpired on the negotiating table need to manifest on the ground back home and what is happening on the ground should find _ex-pression in the political dialogue. It is about responsibility and commitments and not just about relationship and power structures. Solving the Indo-Naga issue could be a panacea and not a pandara box that India so fears to open.

UCM sees conspiracy in text book change stand Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Jul 24: The move to switch over to text books prescribed by the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) in the middle of the academic session is a deliberate attempt to jeopardise the career of the students and to create a line of division in the integrity of Manipur as a part of the Union Government's divisive policy in the North East region, said UCM today. In a statement UCM said that it has taken strong exception to the reported assurance given by the Union Government to change the syllabus of some schools without taking into account the ground reality and legal provisions. Such a move is tantamount sowing the seeds of communal rift in the North East particularly Manipur, it noted adding that the people of Manipur need to neutralise the double-edged conspiracy of the Centre with understanding amongst the people of Manipur. The few individuals who have fallen into the trap of the Centre have nothing to lose.

Their children are all safe and sound either at Imphal or outside the State, said UCM. The victims would be the children of impoverished villagers. It mentioned that the quit notice issued with the signature of UNC in 1992 did not affect the children of UNC leaders in any way though it resulted in loss of hundreds of innocent people besides devastating many villages, it asserted.

The present campaign would not affect the students of Nagaland, it is a diabolic scheme to deny the students of Manipur right to education by making them victims of the current imbroglio, it said. As such, the move is a deliberate attempt to suppress the tribal people of Manipur. It also cautioned to be careful so as not to fall into such traps while asserting that adoption of syllabi of some other board within the State is almost an impossible task.

Maintaining that Manipur has its own laws and Acts, it remarked that it would be futile for Nagaland State cabinet to adopt unrealistic resolutions. The UCM release mentioned that despite repeated resolutions in the Nagaland Assembly for integration of Naga inhabited areas, it still remains a far-fetched dream. It further noted that the syllabi prescribed by NBSE do not include any chapter on any tribal dialect while asking if the tribal people of Manipur would learn other dialects rather than their mother tongues loved and adored by the tribal people.

It alleged that the imposition of dialects other than their own in schools is demeaning to the tribal people of Manipur. The statement asserted that Manipur always stand firm and would not be cowed down by the campaign being undertaken by NSF and its accomplices who are hell-bent on disintegration of Manipur. Reacting to the news report published by the Telegraph without giving any thought to the sensitivity of the issue and without any documents to substantiate their report, UCM asked whether the Telegraph has its ethics incite communal tension.

The matter would be taken to the Press Council of India , it conveyed. Calling to put an immediate halt to politicisation of education, it urged the Government to constitute a long term policy for the students whose text books have been confiscated by some anti-State elements so as to protect their career.
Hoho seeks quota for Nagas in other states Kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, July 24:: The Naga Hoho last week resolved that Nagaland revert to its “pre-1972 status” in order to make Nagas from outside the state eligible for job reservation.

Till 1972, the state was under the external affairs ministry and enabled job reservation for Nagas from outside the state before the then chief minister Hokishe Sema brought the state under the Union home ministry. “The resolution was mainly for the job reservation of Nagas residing outside the so-called Nagaland state,” said a Hoho leader. If it reverts to that status, the tribal body will not only go a step towards integrating the Nagas of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam with Nagaland but also achieve a degree of emotional integration without disturbing the sensitivities of other states. Under the previous arrangement though, sources said, the job reservation of 20 per cent was not meant solely for Nagas from other states but for any citizen residing in any other Indian state. It was a unique arrangement in the sense that citizens of other states’ could get a job in Nagaland. Now, however, the Hohos have demanded job reservation only for Nagas from other states.

Before this move, two other moves were made by the Nagas in Manipur. The United Naga Council (UNC), Manipur, has demanded the affiliation of all Naga-dominated private schools to the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE). The students even met Union HRD minister Arjun Singh twice over the past few weeks and claimed to have succeeded in driving home their point. Chief minister Neiphiu Rio has already given his assent to the UNC’s proposal, and urged the Centre to take appropriate steps to enable the affiliation to the NBSE.

In a second move, the UNC has asked the Naga villages in the four districts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel to pay the annual house tax to the Nagaland government and not to the one in Manipur. (Telegraph)
Developments in capital is for Naga people, not for Angamis alone: Dr Shurhozelie North East Press Service

Kohima, Jul 24 (NEPS): Nagaland Minister for Planning and Urban Development Dr Shurhozelie said the DAN Government had been doing a lot of developmental works since it came to power in 2003. Talking to NEPS here in his residence, the Minister said whatever “Plan money” they got as “financial assistance” had been “judiciously used with proper monitoring.”

He said there had been 38 projects for the state under the Urban Development Ministry and out of which, only 8 were for state capital. These capital projects include Capital Cultural Hall, two Pedestrian Footbridges, Drainage Protection, IAS Transit Accommodation, Development of Parks, Pay and Use Toilets, Super Market Complex, etc.

The Minister said the projects in other districts included for the improvement of town roads at Phek, Mokokchung, Mon and Noklak, constructions of Guest Houses at Wokha, Mon and Tobu, constructions of Town Halls at Pfutsero and Phek, constructions of Indoor Stadium and Rostrum at Kiphire, constructions of Zunheboto College Building and its Hostel Building, constructions of Market Complexes at Dimapur (Kalibari and Purana Bazaar), Chumukedima, Phek, Kiphire, Kohima, Mon, etc. Constructions of the many markets have already been completed while some are in progress, the Minister stated. Dr Shurhozelie, however, regretted that some Congress leaders including its president Hokheto Sumi continued to say that there were no developmental activities in the State, while some of them would continue to say that except a few developments in Kohima and Dimapur, nothing was there in the State.
“Sometimes, we felt embarrassed as it seemed blowing our own trumpet but the fact remains that there have been so much developments going on since the DAN Government came to power in the State,” the Minister averred. The Naga people were the best judge, he added.

As an opposition, you could give constructive criticism but making such blatant and sweeping lies that “no development was there in the state under the DAN rule” was something nobody could simply think of, said Dr Shurhozelie, who is also president of the major ruling NPF party.
He also explained that whatever developments taking place in the state capital were not for the “Angamis or the Kohima people.”

“If I construct Kohima Town Hall, Super Market, Parks, Pedestrian Footbridges in the state capital, are they for the Angamis or Kohima people,” he asked and further said, “Whatever investments and developments taking place in the state capital are for the Naga people as a whole as the capital belongs to them.”
DAN govt. doing a lot of devp. works: Shurhozelie Nagaland Post Kohima (NEPS): Nagaland Minister for Planning and Urban Development Dr Shurhozelie said the DAN Government had been doing a lot of developmental works since it came to power in 2003. Talking to NEPS here in his residence, the Minister said whatever "Plan money" they got as "financial assistance" had been "judiciously used with proper monitoring."
He said there had been 38 projects for the state under the Urban Development Ministry and out of which, only 8 were for state capital. These capital projects include Capital Cultural Hall, two Pedestrian Footbridges, Drainage Protection, IAS Transit Accommodation, Development of Parks, Pay and Use Toilets, Super Market Complex, etc. The Minister said the projects in other districts included for the improvement of town roads at Phek, Mokokchung, Mon and Noklak, constructions of Guest Houses at Wokha, Mon and Tobu, constructions of Town Halls at Pfutsero and Phek, constructions of Indoor Stadium and Rostrum at Kiphire, constructions of Zunheboto College Building and its Hostel Building, constructions of Market Complexes at Dimapur (Kalibari and Purana Bazaar), Chumukedima, Phek, Kiphire, Kohima, Mon, etc. Constructions of the many markets have already been completed while some are in progress, the Minister stated.
Dr Shurhozelie, however, regretted that some Congress leaders including its president Hokheto Sumi continued to say that there were no developmental activities in the State, while some of them would continue to say that except a few developments in Kohima and Dimapur, nothing was there in the State. "Sometimes, we felt embarrassed as it seemed blowing our own trumpet but the fact remains that there have been so much developments going on since the DAN Government ame to power in the State," the Minister averred. The Naga people were the best judge, he added.
As an opposition, you could give constructive criticism but making such blatant and sweeping lies that "no development was there in the state under the DAN rule" was something nobody could simply think of, said Dr Shurhozelie, who is also president of the major ruling NPF party.He also explained that whatever developments taking place in the state capital were not for the "Angamis or the Kohima people."
"If I construct Kohima Town Hall, Super Market, Parks, Pedestrian Footbridges in the state capital, are they for the Angamis or Kohima people," he asked and further said, "Whatever investments and developments taking place in the state capital are for the Naga people as a whole as the capital belongs to them."
ULFA representatives accuse centre of sabotaging talks The Morung Express
Guwahati, July 24 (Agencies): Civil society representatives of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in Assam have accused New Delhi of trying to sabotage the peace process by making contradictory statements over holding talks with the rebel leadership. A sense of growing mistrust between the ULFA and the central government is pushing the much-hyped peace process to a point where it could reach a dead end and even collapse before actually taking off. ‘First they (central government) asked the ULFA to establish direct contact, then they asked to name the members who would participate in the talks, now they are saying there cannot be talks without a ceasefire,’ Arup Borbora, spokesperson of the People’s Consultative Group (PCG), said. ‘In the interest of a negotiated political solution, it is necessary that the centre refrains from violating the decisions taken on June 22.’
At the end of the third of round of talks between the ULFA nominated PCG and government peace negotiators in New Delhi June 22, Home Minister Shivraj Patil had said the government was ready to release five top jailed rebel leaders to pave the way for direct talks with the ULFA leadership. During the past week, there were conflicting statements from Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal - both advocating that the ULFA establish direct contacts with the government before holding peace talks. The ULFA in a statement made it clear it would sit for direct talks with New Delhi only when the government releases five of their jailed leaders. ‘These kind of conflicting signals from the government do not bode too well for the peace process,’ PCG member Dilip Patgiri said.
Meanwhile, army operations are on against the ULFA in Assam triggering mass protests with people blocking highways over the weekend.Hundreds of people in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district blocked highways Sunday for hours together protesting army operations against the ULFA in the area leading to the death of a local youth. The protestors have threatened to enforce a 48-hour shutdown in Tinsukia district beginning Tuesday if the army offensives were not halted immediately.
‘The army operations are against the spirit of the peace process currently on. The need of the hour is to build and strengthen confidence instead of targeting innocents in the name of hounding ULFA rebels,’ B. Neog, a protesting leader, said. ULFA, which has been fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979, last October appointed the 11-member PCG to represent it in the talks with the government.
Desperately seeking the truth Sangai Express editorial
Did Union Human Resources Development Minister Mr Arjun Singh say something to the delegates of Naga Students' Federation and something very different to Chief Minister O Ibobi on the same issue, is the question that is worth raising now. The Telegraph, which is arguably, one of the most respected newspapers in Manipur, in its July 23 edition carried a lead story which said that Mr Arjun Singh had assured the NSF team that the Centre will allow the private schools in the four hill districts of Manipur to be affiliated to the Nagaland Board of School Education. The news story created ripples across the State, for the news had become hot topic even before the edition of The Telegraph had reached Imphal. When The Sangai Express first contacted the State Education Minister, Mr L Nandakumar on the news story, the Minister said that he had not yet received any intimation from the Centre on the issue, though he made his stand clear in stating that the HRD Minister should not interfere in the issue. Chief Minister O Ibobi too stuck the same line on first being contacted affirming that he had not received any intimation on the issue from the Centre. However, there seems to have been some development, as the Chief Minister's office rang up the newspapers houses late in the evening of July 23 to convey the message that the CM had already talked with Mr Arjun Singh. The Chief Minister was categorical in stating that the HRD Minister had made it clear that he gave no such assurance to the NSF team though he did admit meeting them. So the question now is who is telling the truth, The Telegraph or Mr Arjun Singh ?
As professionals engaged in the calling called journalism, we firmly believe that no newspaper worth its credibility would deliberately twist a story to sensationalise it. The Telegraph which has a large circulation in Manipur and a number of avid readers, has reached this stage in the State through its unbiased reporting all these years and it is a little difficult to even remotely suspect that it may have misquoted the HRD Minister. Something more needs to be done than just the verbal assurance given to Mr Ibobi by Arjun Singh. This is not the first time that conflicting reports over the text book issue have hit the State. Readers will well remember the contradictory reports given by the Secretary of the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur and the Chairman of the Nagaland Board of School Education soon after the North East zonal meet of the Council of Board of School Education at Guwahati some days back. Contrary to what the BSEM Secretary had earlier told the press in Manipur the NBSE Chairman refuted the report stating that no resolution was adopted over the text book issue. The BSEM Secretary however stuck to his guns with the Secretary of the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur corroborating his stand. It is unfortunate that text books, which is purely about education have been politicised to such an extent. It will not take a genius to say who will be the loser in the long run.
ULFA reiterates sovereignty stand Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, July 24 – Close on the heels of Centre asking for a firm commitment from ULFA, today it was the turn of the militant outfit to seek a written assurance from the Government of India on the ‘core issue’ of sovereignty. Like a tennis ball, the ULFA peace process is being lobbed from one court to another, with no sign of the tie ending. Today Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami verbally delivered the message from the ULFA to National Security Adviser MK Narayanan and Union Home Secretary VK Duggal conveying that the outfit wanted in black and white a commitment that the discussion would centre around sovereignty, a reiteration of its old demand. Besides, ULFA’s communication, forwarded by People’s Consultative Group (PCG) member Dr Mukul Mahanta, also wanted the Government to release the five detained leaders before the negotiations and details of the whereabouts of the missing ULFA cadres lost during Bhutan Operation, both old demands.
Dr Goswami, in turn was asked by the NSA and Home Secretary to convey the demands in writing to Government of India elaborating on the demands made by ULFA. That letter is likely to go tomorrow. As reported earlier, the Centre had last week sought a written communication from ULFA, specifying its agenda for the peace process, as well as, names of its team member for negotiations with Government of India. But sources here denied that the Centre had asked for a ceasefire ahead of the talks, as alleged by the PCG.
The Government of India had indicated to Dr Goswami that the demand for release of the five Central Committee Members would be favourably looked into, besides safe passage of the leaders would be guaranteed. It also conveyed that, if ULFA was willing, the first round could be held as early as August-end. Confirming the Centre’s message, sources said that the Union Home Secretary had conveyed that delegation for talks could also include the detained ULFA leaders. Besides the outfit would also be free to place all their demands including the ‘core issue’ during the negotiations.
Meanwhile, Dr Goswami today said that she was going to insist on releasing the five leaders because without their presence, ULFA may not be in a position to decide on the peace process. They are all members of the Central Committee and their presence is vital.

Asked about the peace process, Jnanpith Laureate said that she was hopeful. “We will fight for some more time and hope for some breakthrough in the near future,” she said.

Yesterday, the PCG had blasted the Government of India for springing last minute surprises by voicing new demands. It contended that the Centre had set new pre-conditions for talks. The PCG was also peeved with the killing of at least six cadres of the Outfit after the last round of talks, whereas both sides had agreed to exercise restraint.
The PCH has also sent a written communication Dr Goswami today clarifying some of the points.