By Syed Zarir Hussain, IANS
Guwahati : Noted Assamese writer Indira Goswami Friday said that the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has sought a formal letter from New Delhi for holding peace talks aimed at ending nearly three decades of insurgency in Assam.
“A top ULFA leader telephoned me recently and said the outfit could consider holding talks with the Indian government if it receives a formal letter from New Delhi,” Goswami told IANS.
She was for the last three years the key link between the ULFA and New Delhi with the rebel outfit formally entrusting her with the task of opening exploratory peace talks. She held several rounds of meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
“I had written a letter last week to M.K. Narayanan (India’s national security advisor), requesting the government of India to write a formal letter to the ULFA for holding peace talks,” said Goswami, a prominent scholar of the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana.
“I am confident we would be able to convince the ULFA leadership to sit for direct talks with the government once the letter is issued.”
Her efforts at bringing the ULFA leadership for direct talks with New Delhi had almost fructified but certain preconditions set by both the sides led to the fragile peace initiative’s collapse in September last year.
“It is high time the government gave a serious thought to the ULFA issue and should not hesitate to write a letter offering for unconditional talks,” she said.
For close to three years, the Delhi University professor in Modern Indian Languages was in constant touch with Paresh Baruah and Arabinda Rajkhowa over telephone – although she has never met the two top ULFA leaders.
“Everybody in Assam wants peace and even Miliki Baruah, mother of Paresh Baruah, is praying for a negotiated settlement to the problem and would like to see her son back home,” Goswami said.
The ULFA had earlier said it would sit for talks if the government released five of their jailed leaders and discussed the core issue of sovereignty. New Delhi has rejected the preconditions.
“Let the ULFA come for direct talks and there should be no problems in releasing the jailed leaders. But they should shun violence and come for talks first,” said Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.
Despite her failure in brokering peace in the last few years, Goswami is optimistic.
“I am an optimist and believe peace would dawn in Assam. Violence cannot fulfil grievances and is not a solution. It is through negotiations and dialogues that any problem could be resolved,” said Goswami, a Jnanpeeth award winner, the highest literary award in India.