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ULFA under influence of ISI: Gogoi

ULFA under influence of ISI: Gogoi

Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 12, 2007

With incidents of the killing of civilians, particularly Hindi-speaking people, on the rise in Assam, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi says he doubts the sincerity of the outlawed ULFA to join the peace process as it is "under the influence" of the ISI and jehadi groups.

Gogoi is ready to release five jailed ULFA leaders provided that brings the group's top leadership -- chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and secretary general Paresh Barua, believed to be living in Bangladesh -- to the negotiating table but says there should be direct talks without any conditions.

He also feels the People's Consultative Group (PCG), which includes eminent writer Indira Goswami, has been unable to make any breakthrough in persuading the ULFA's leadership to participate in the peace process.

"They (PCG) are only talking to our leaders (in the Central government). They don't seem to have direct contact with ULFA leaders. Why doesn't Indira Goswami meet the other side? I am prepared to provide any help and facilities to them," he said in interview to a news agency at his residence over the weekend as the banned group kept targeting Hindi-speaking people in upper Assam, killing 16 people.

The wide-ranging interview covered issues like the infiltration of foreigners, an issue that gained a new dimension last year with the scrapping of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act of 1985 by the Supreme Court and the need to update the National Register of Citizens, as the 71-year-old Gogoi rebutted charges that his Congress Party was interested only in creating a "vote bank" of illegal migrants.

Asked whether ULFA leaders were sincere in wanting to hold talks with the government or whether they were only posturing, Gogoi said: "That is my doubt also. Their sincerity is in question.

"See frankly speaking, they are under the influence of many others like the ISI and jehadi groups. Their links with the ISI and jehadi groups should be broken, which is an international problem."

Gogoi said he had doubts whether any one in Assam has direct contacts with the ULFA. "But still I am appealing to anybody having direct contact with the ULFA to mediate. Otherwise there is no point. Unless you go and talk to people directly, persuade them, know their mind," he said of the ULFA leaders who have so far refused to come forward for direct talks.

"If these five people (jailed ULFA leaders) can bring their leadership to talks, I don't mind (releasing them). But I make it clear that talks must be direct and not through these five people or the PCG," Gogoi said, referring to ULFA's demand for the release of imprisoned leaders including ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain. "Arabindo Rajkhowa and Paresh Barua must come forward. Otherwise there is no point of talking," he said, pointing to the direct talks between the NSCN-IM and the Centre since a ceasefire was put in place in neighbouring Nagaland in 1997.

Asked whether Bangladesh was playing a positive role, he said, "Somebody appears to be doing that. But let us see. Only results will show."


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