‘Congenial environment for peace talks yet to be created’

GUWAHATI - Jailed chairman of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) Arabinda Rajkhowa said here Wednesday that a congenial environment for beginning formal peace talks with the government was yet to be created.

I would say the atmosphere for peace talks has not yet been created since we are still in jail. But I must say the government has shown some positive attitude by not opposing the bail applications of some of our jailed leaders, the ULFA chairman told reporters while being produced before a local court for hearing.

Rajkhowa said despite the government’s positive attitude, a congenial atmosphere for starting peace talks was yet to be created.

We are still in jail and I don’t think talks could begin like this. The government needs to be more generous and show their sincerity, the ULFA chairman said.

We are ready for talks, but not with handcuffs on.

Barring ULFA’s elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, the entire top brass of the outfit is in jail. The imprisoned leaders include chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, self-styled foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury, finance secretary Chitrabon Hazarika, cultural secretary Pranati Deka and Bhimkanta Buragohain.

Two other leaders - ULFA vice chairman Pradip Gogoi and publicity chief Mithinga Daimary, are currently out on bail and engaged in drumming up public support for initiating peace talks.

And now decks are being gradually cleared for the release of three more jailed separatists - Raju Baruah, Chitrabon Hazarika and Bhimkanta Buragohain - all the three in the past few days filed separate bail petitions before the court.

And going by past instances when the government lawyer did not object to the bail petitions of Buragohain, Pradip Gogoi and Mithinga Daimary, there are now indications that the government too wants the ULFA leaders to come out on bail to get the peace talks started.