There were a number of people in the Govt. and also the Governor of Assam, who expressed serious reservations before the talks and also regarding the Govt. mandated lull in the fighting.
I am not sure what this tells us of a CM who seems to have realized just now that the GOI and the GOA have been taken for a ride by ULFA. Hopefully it is once burnt, twice shy for the CM,the GOI, and the people of Assam and it remains to be seen if the ULFA ( and its ardent friends) can fool the Govt. and the people once again? --Ram NEW DELHI: Indirect talks with the separatist group United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) through the People's Consultative Group (PCG) was an incorrect step, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Monday. "It was a wrong move by the central government to continue peace talk with the ULFA. They got their sweet time to regroup themselves and now they are again spreading terror," said Gogoi while addressing a press conference on the 33rd National Games. The Feb 9-18 National Games - being held after four years - have been a doubtful starter after ULFA called upon the people of Assam to boycott the games. ULFA's recent terror attacks have killed more than 80 people. Gogoi said he was also to be blamed for the wrong step. "I am also to be partly blamed for this process because the central government had taken me into confidence for the talks with the ULFA," he said. Gogoi assured foolproof security for the National Games. "I can assure you all that there will be foolproof security for the National Games. It will be much bigger then the 32nd National Games that took place in Hyderabad in 2002." ULFA had set up the PCG, comprising of prominent Assamese citizens in September 2005, to start negotiations with the federal government. The peace talks broke down last September when the central government refused to extend a ceasefire as ULFA did not give a written commitment to hold direct talks with the former. Gogoi said nothing could be achieved by gun and by creating terror in the minds of the people of Assam. He cited the example of a former separatist group Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) who are now a part of his government. "BLT was also a similar out fit like the ULFA. But we sat down with BLT and they surrendered and also went onto fight elections. Now we have BLT members as a part of our government."
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