In a vertical split in the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom, its elusive “commander-in-chief” Paresh Baruah on Monday rejected the proposed February 10 peace talks between New Delhi and a Ulfa faction led by chairman Arbinda Rajkhowa.
This is also a split between the outfit’s armed and political wings, which has been visible since 1996.
In an emailed statement to local newspapers, Ulfa publicity secretary Arunodoi Dohotia said: “The decision by the general council (on) peace talks with the government can’t be legal as the general council meeting itself was unconstitutional.”
It claimed: “We held an emergency meeting at our general headquarters (somewhere in Burma) that began Sunday and concluded early Monday. We came to a conclusion that the general council meeting (chaired by Mr Rajkhowa) was unconstitutional as it was held under the influence of our enemy (government).”
Mr Paresh Baruah was said to have chaired the emergency meeting.
The statement added since “the proposed peace talks are unconstitutional, hence we decided not to support such a dialogue process.”