The following in Today's Sentinel: **************************************************************************************************************
Giving up arms a must for peace talks: Gogoi By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, May 29: In what could best be termed as setting a precondition for peace talks, Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said the door of the Government is always open for militant groups that are interested in peace talks but the militant groups have to deposit their arms and shun violence first, and talks can be held only within the purview of the Constitution. A meeting of the Unified Command Structure (UCS) was held today at Dispur with the Chief Minister as president. The meeting was attended, among others, by 4 Corps GOC Lt Gen BS Jaswal, Asom DGP RN Mathur, Principal Home Secretary Subash Das, IGP (law and order) Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta and other top police and Home Department officials. The meeting took a decision to continue Army operation in the State. The two-and-a-half-hour-long meeting reviewed the current law-and-order situation in NC Hills. Talking to newsmen after the meeting, Gogoi said: "We are always ready for talks with any militant outfits of the State, but the talks should be held only within the purview of the Constitution. The peace process with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) derailed when the outfit remained adamant on its sovereignty demand. So we want to make it clear for all rebel groups of the State that peace talks can be held only within the framework of the Constitution." When asked on the ceasefire offer of the DHD(J), Gogoi said: "We will reciprocate the offer if the rebel group gives up arms, shuns violence and comes forward for peace talks. The question of cessation of Army operation doesn't arise. Army operation was always there, and will continue." "************************************************************************************************************** >On the statement aired by 4 Corps GOC Lt Gen BS Jaswal that there >should be a stringent law to bar >militants from joining their >respective outfits after their release from jails, Gogoi said: "The >Government >is concerned over the fact. We need to consider the >matter. *** I can't believe this! Is this an unmitigated assembly of FOOLS or what? cm _______________________________________________ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
