Jiten Dutta: Ready for talks

Guwahati, Nov. 1: The pro-talks Ulfa group is set for a date with Delhi after Thursday’s “positive and doubt-clearing” talks with an Intelligence Bureau team in Guwahati.

The group’s general secretary, Jiten Dutta, said the next round of talks would be held “soon” and “in Delhi”, his confidence stemming from the assurance by additional IB director R.N. Ravi to impress upon the Union home ministry to begin formal parleys at the earliest.

Ravi was deputed by the home ministry to meet the former rebel leaders to understand how the peace process can be taken forward.

Home minister P. Chidambaram’s statement on Friday that the Centre would hold talks with the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel), the United People’s Democratic Solidarity and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (pro-talks) in consultation with Dispur has fuelled hopes of a similar approach towards the pro-talks Ulfa group.

Former IB chief P.C. Haldar has been appointed the interlocutor for these talks.

“If the Centre is keen on talks with these groups, we don’t see why the pro-talks Ulfa will be left out, more so after Upper Assam has been relatively peaceful after it declared a unilateral ceasefire,” a source said.

“The Centre had some doubts over our strength and standing. This was clear from the talks we had with the IB official last week. We think we have been able to convey to him that we were not a group representing A and C companies of Ulfa’s 28 battalion. We also have people from 709 as well as the 27 battalion in the Nalbari camp. We have given him a copy of the demands,” Dutta said about the 45-minute discussion with Ravi.

Mrinal Hazarika, president, and Prabal Neog, vice-president, of the pro-talks group attended the meeting.

The pro-talks group has said more and more rebels belonging to the outfit would come forward only if the Centre displayed its sincerity by starting formal talks with the group which came overground by declaring a unilateral ceasefire in June last year.

The former rebels are now housed in three camps — 78 in Kakopathar, 21 in Moran and 39 in Nalbari. Those in Nalbari are from Ulfa’s 709 and 27 battalions. The B company of the dreaded 28 battalion has around 100 cadres, the 709 around 50 while 27 battalion has around 40.

“The ball really is in the Centre’s court. We told the authorities that most of the boys outside the unilateral ceasefire don’t want to stay in camps and without arms waiting indefinitely for formal talks to begin. They will come overground once the Centre starts talking to us. Once those working in the field come out, those living outside the country will have no impact. The group in talks will eventually emerge as the true representative of the outfit. Therefore, the Centre should not harp on numbers and laying down of arms,” Dutta said.

He said on Friday they called on principal secretary (home) S.C. Das — considered a crucial spoke in the peace wheel — to convey what transpired during the talks yesterday and seek a hike in the financial assistance to the group.

“We get around Rs 15 lakh a month for upkeep of our boys against Rs 29 lakh we had requested. It is becoming difficult as the funds go towards buying ration, supporting our kids, medical attention, organising meetings to mobilise public opinion for lasting peace. The amount is not enough. Das sir has said our request was being processed. The talks yesterday and today were very positive. We are hopeful of a positive response very soon,” Dutta said.