PCG pulls out of peace process

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posted on 17 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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The Peoples Consultative Group pulled out of the peace process, blaming the Centre for derailing the ULFA talks.

Guwahati: The Peoples Consultative Group (PCG) on Wednesday pulled out of the peace process, blaming the Centre for derailing the entire exercise to bring ULFA to the negotiating table.

The ULFA-nominated PCG members collectively came forward, saying though PCG would keep contact with the common people ''it would no longer be a part of the peace process.''

PCG member Arup Borbora alleged that the Centre had shown complete disregard towards the entire peace process.

Another PCG member Lachit Bordoloi said that the Centre could have carried forward the peace process easily, if the five top jailed ULFA leaders, whose presence is needed for the crucial central executive to take the final decision for peace talk by the ULFA, were released.

The Centre toughened its stand insisting on a letter from the ULFA before the release, which the militant organisation did not give and the Government too did not relent.

''People of Asom will never forget the insult. The Centre has once again proved that it does not value the aspirations of the ordinary people,'' said Lachit Bordoloi.

The nine – member PCG has of late been sidelined as the Centre was talking directly to Rebatoi Phukan and Mamoni Roysom Goswami. The PCG was formulated in 2005 to gauge the mood of the people by ULFA and to create the ambience for a talk in consultation with the common people.

The PCG had three rounds of meeting of which the Prime Minister chaired the first one. The third round of talks on July 22 gave the maximum hope with both the Centre and the PCG agreeing for starting the direct talk with ULFA and the release of the jailed ULFA leaders.

But after that ULFA and Government toughened its stand with PCG getting sandwiched between them. ''We have almost succeeded. The Governor Lt General Ajay Sinha is scuttling the peace process'' alleged PCG member Haidar Hussain.

With the PCG out, the hope of peace in Asom has also reduced substantially with no group is likely to come forward to do another round of diplomacy to end the violence once and for all.