 Guwahati, Tuesday, November 22, 2005 Vested circles trying to derail peace moves By A Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Nov 21 The Peoples Consultative Group (PCG), formed by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to pave the way for talks with the Government of India and the Peoples Committee for Peace Initiative have expressed apprehension that some vested interest circles might try to derail the peace process, and called upon the people of the State to thwart any such attempt. Meanwhile, the second round of talks between the PCG and Government of India, scheduled to be held later this month, has been postponed. PCG member and one of the coordinators of the Committee for Peace Initiative, formed with members of 21 different organisations, Dilip Patgiri, told this correspondent today that since the beginning of the peace process, there were attempts by certain sections to derail the process. He pointed out that the Army chief gave confusing statements on the very day the Prime Ministers Office sent the formal letter to the PCG for the first round of talks. Subsequently, there have been contradictory statements from police and Army officials and the recent unprovoked killing of two members of the ULFA in Bilasipara proved that some persons did not want the peace process to continue. He said that since for months, the ULFA did not launch any operation and in the interest of creating a congenial atmosphere for talks, the security forces should also maintain restraint. Peace is too important an issue to leave it to the security forces, he added. Patgiri said that the cycle rallies brought out by the members of the peace initiative to create public opinion in support of the peace process are getting very good response from cross sections of people. The rally brought out from Sadiya reached Jorhat today, while, the rally that started from Dhubri reached Pathsala. Another such rally will soon be brought out from Jonai. The rallyists also held public meetings en route and Patgiri, who addressed a number of such meetings, said that they tried their best to make the people aware of the peace process and the need to thwart any move to derail the process. Patgiri said that during the interaction with people, they came to know that cross sections of people wanted an amicable solution to the issues raised by the ULFA. All people of Assam want restoration of permanent peace in the state and they want to breathe freely, he added. Meanwhile, the second round of meeting between the Government of India and the PCG, scheduled to be held later this month, has been postponed. One of the facilitators of the PCG, Rebati Phukan told this correspondent that the proposed meeting has been postponed because of the Parliament session and the same is likely to be held in the second week of December. Phukan expressed the hope that formal and direct talks between the Government of India and the ULFA would be held sooner or later. The Government has shown a positive gesture on the issue and on its part, the ULFA showed its sincerity, he pointed out. He also pointed out that all sections of people of Assam have extended their support to the peace initiative. It may be mentioned here that the first round of talks between the Government and the PCG was held in New Delhi on October 26, which was also attended by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. The issues like the release of the senior ULFA leaders from Jail, finding out the whereabouts of the ULFA men missing since the Bhutan operations in December 2003, etc are likely to figure in the second round of talks. |
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