1. Ulfa's 'no' to unconditional talks http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=151381
Statesman News Service GUWAHATI, March 29: The United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) today said no to suggestions from various quarters for holding unconditional talks with the Centre. In a statement e-mailed to the media here today, the chairman of the banned insurgent group, Mr Arabinda Rajkhowa, said that the outfit would not come forward for unconditional talks with the Centre as it would amount to making compromise on the basic objective of restoration of sovereignty in Assam. The Ulfa leader stated that the group couldn't afford to do so after the sacrifice of over 10,000 of its cadres in the continuing armed revolution. He fired a broadside at those political leaders who had attended the recent two-day conclave organised by the People's Committee for Peace in Assam (PCPIA) only to suggest that both the Ulfa and the Centre should hold unconditional talks. "Do these politicians want us not to talk about restoration of sovereignty of Assam, whereabouts of Ulfa leaders who went missing from custody, release of jailed Ulfa leaders and withdrawal of forces from Assam ? We are not game for holding such dialogue, the outfit's chairman said. The militant group warned those political leaders to desist from making such shallow comments though the media on an issue that was linked to the Assamese national identity, prestige and question of survival. The Ulfa also launched an attack on Assam chief minister Mr Tarun Gogoi's comment that there was no need for holding plebiscite in the state on the question of demand for restoration of sovereignty as demanded by the Ulfa. The Ulfa chairman termed Mr Gogoi a puppet in the hands of the Centre.
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