ULFA demands inclusion of Chetia in peace talks

The pro-talks faction of ULFA led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa Tuesday asked the Centre to include the outfit’s recently deported general secretary, Anup Chetia, in the ongoing peace process.

The meeting, under the chairmanship of Mr. Mehrishi, reviewed the progress made in the peace talks so far.

“The government has assured us that Anup Chetia will be included in the discussions and our demands looked into”, he added.

Since all cases against Chetia date to the early 1990s or 1980s, his release on bail before talks in December “is not impossible”, government sources said.

Anup Chetia, ULFA’s general secretary, was arrested by Bangladesh police in 1997.

Informing that he would not be part of the proposed November 24 peace talks with pro-talk faction of Ulfa, sources said that Chetia was given the option of taking part in the process but turned it down. Representatives of the government of Assam also took part in it.

Ulfa leaders today said Chetia was always for a negotiated settlement and the Centre largely agrees with that view. Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the central government is expecting a breakthrough in the ongoing talks with the ULFA soon.

Chetia, who was sent to India by Bangladesh, is now in 14-day judicial custody in Guwahati.

Besides Rajkhowa, among other ULFA leaders who left for New Delhi for talks are Chitrabon Hazarika, Sashardhar Choudhury, Mithinga Daimary and Pranati Deka. The ULFA is one of the largest of the many rebel groups active in India’s restive northeast, a remote and underdeveloped region that is home to dozens of ethnic groups, many of whom are campaigning for greater autonomy, statehood or even secession. We hope that a solution could be found soon, ” he said.