ULFA hopeful of talks next year

New Delhi: In an e-mail to local media in Guwahati, the ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa on Tuesday said the process of political dialogue for resolving the 'Assam-India conflict' would be completed in the new year.

The ULFA has expressed hope of negotiation but insisted that "sovereignty" should be the core issue.

"Restoration of sovereignty of Asom would be the only political solution to the conflict", the ULFA leader said in the e-mail and called upon all political parties and the people of Assam to play their role to get any solution.

Greeting the people on the occasion of New Year and Bihu, Rajkhowa alleged that in 2006 "political leaders failed to realise the gravity of the problem.”

“The Centre also did not give a written assurance to discuss the issue of sovereignty as demanded by the outfit and thus derailed the peace process,” he told PTI.

According to the top ULFA leader, the Centre was not sincere on the (talks) issue and not able to disclose the whereabouts of ULFA members who went missing after the Bhutan operation in 2003.

"The Centre had also rejected the fear of the people on the proposed seismic survey by OIL on River Brahmaputra and did not address to the problem of encroachment of Assam land by Nagaland", he added.

The ULFA appointed People's Consultative Group (PCG) has rejected the Prime Minister's offer for safe passage saying it was not relevant.