Ulfa talks update

After several rounds of informal exchanges with the Centre and the Assam government through interlocutor P C Haldar, Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa has formally written to chief minister Tarun Gogoi expressing the outfit’s willingness to hold peace talks. “I have received Rajkhowa’s letter. He has said Ulfa wants to hold talks with the government. But the outfit is yet to take a formal decision,” Gogoi said here on Sunday. “According to Rajkhowa, Ulfa’s central executive council meeting will be held soon. Decisions taken at the meeting will be communicated to the government. It is up to them now.” The Ulfa chairman has not mentioned any date for starting talks. But the formal communication has set the ball rolling. Sources said Ulfa’s recent move is expected to set in motion the peace process that will lead the outfit to the discussion table. The central executive council is likely to meet after next week when citizens’ group Sanmilita Jaitya Abhibartan, which has been mediating talks, prepares the draft charter of demands on behalf of the outfit. The charter will be sent to the Ulfa leadership before it is submitted to the government for initiating dialogue. This charter will form the basis of the much-awaited talks, said sources.