Goswami makes fresh bid to revive ULFA talks http://in.news.yahoo.com/070628/48/6hi3y.html
<http://in.rd.yahoo.com/expressnews/SIG=11738n0j1/**http%3A%2F%2Fwww.expressindia.com%2F> By IE *Friday June 29, 01:26 AM* Noted Assamese scholar Indira Goswami today announced her new group, Citizens' Peace Forum (CPF), would write a letter asking the ULFA leadership to resume negotiations with the Government of India. "We are writing a letter via e-mail to ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and commander-in-chief Paresh Barua and ask them write a letter to the Central Government and designate an emissary for resuming the much-needed peace talks," Goswami, who is executive president of the newly floated CPF said. She said the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister wanted a "definite" letter from the ULFA leaders on their willingness to reopen the peace talks even if it was through a designated emissary. "When we met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on June 9, he even said the Government would help find a mutually agreeable emissary if required," Goswami said. Goswami, along with other members of the Citizens' Peace Forum also met the National Security Advisor and the Union Home Minister. "The PMO had slotted us for only 15 minutes. But the Prime Minister discussed various issues with us for over 45 minutes. This is enough to prove that the Government was serious and sincere (in resuming talks)," she added. When asked about how sincere the ULFA was, Goswami said she was confident that the ULFA top leaders would respond positively to the new offer. "I have always found Paresh Barua positive in regards to holding discussions with the government," she said. Goswami however admitted that her communication with the ULFA leader, except for Barua, has been always one way. Goswami, who had in the past two years played an interlocutor's role between the ULFA and New Delhi after the militant group designated an 11-member People's Consultative Committee, insisted there should be no hurdle in discussing about ULFA's "sovereignty" demand too. "Talking about sovereignty does not amount to granting sovereignty or making any commitment. I think it will only help reduce gaps," she said.
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