Guwahati, March 4: Surrendered Ulfa members today formed a new forum for a "democratic fight" against foreigners, withdrawal of pending cases and to establish an economic base for the indigenous people.

The forum, Praktan Ulfa Aikya Mancha, was formed with a 51-member executive committee. Kalpajyoti Neog was selected as its president while Anup Chetia, general secretary of the pro-talks Ulfa group, was selected its chief adviser. Lohit Deori, another former Ulfa leader, was selected general secretary of the new forum.

"Since we gave up an armed fight long ago, we have now decided to fight democratically for protection of rights of the indigenous people, including land rights. We will soon carry out a survey in the state and try to unite all 14,000 surrendered Ulfa members to fight for their proper rehabilitation, foreigners problem and ensure that indigenous people become economically empowered," Neog, who was among the first group of Ulfa leaders to surrender in 1992, told The Telegraph after the meeting.

"We have already requested the state government to take steps for withdrawal of cases as the cadres had given up arms following the government's call to come overground. The state government assured us that steps would be taken for withdrawal of cases which are not heinous. But we will talk to legal experts on how to approach the Centre on withdrawal of serious cases too. Many surrendered Ulfa members are making rounds of the courts as cases are pending and are suffering both psychologically and financially. We will also carry out a survey of the socio-economic condition of all the surrendered members," Neog said.

Nearly 200 surrendered Ulfa leaders and cadres attended the meeting. Neog said district-level committees of the forum would be formed. "We will work out a detailed action plan within 15 days," he said.

Chetia told The Telegraph that they would jointly work since they "are all a part of the same movement" to protect the interest of the indigenous communities against the threat posed by foreigners. Two other leaders of the pro-talks Ulfa group, Mrinal Hazarika and Pranjit Deka, will be advisers.

The pro-talks Ulfa group is in a dialogue with the Centre and state government on their charter of demands while another group, Ulfa (Independent) led by Paresh Barua, is still fighting an armed movement for a "sovereign Assam", the core demand since the outfit's formation in 1979.

Raj Duarah, president of the Praktan Ulfa Samannay Rakshi Samity, another forum of nearly 3,200 surrendered Ulfa cadres, however, said they decided not to take part in today's meeting as the demand for introduction of inner-line permit (ILP) in Assam was not a part of the new forum's agenda.