Skip to content Skip to navigation

Another Logjam in Peace Process

Our Correspondent
Guwahati: A war of word between Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and peace broker Mamoni Roisom Goswami may put the peace process in yet another logjam.

Talking to a vernacular daily on its Monday issue, the award winning writer says she is not satisfied the way Mr Gogoi urges her to rush to Bangladesh.

“If need be I am ready to leave for Bangladesh with Rebati but it must be a decent appeal.”

“Let the Government make necessary arrangement to go to Bangladesh. I will do it tomorrow itself. But it will not be my personal initiative. The Chief Minister knows: how a top ranked leader of a banned outfit can be met.”

She rues that she finds it difficult it ti understand what Mr Gogoi says these days.

Notably, in a recent press conference Mr Gogoi said, “let Mamoni Raisom Goswami meet Paresh Baruah or Arabinda Rajkhowa and convince them to come forward for talk, as direct contact with them is necessary for talks.”

Mr Gogoi also said it was strange that Mamoni Raisom Dr Goswami was maintaining silence on the Hajo blast. According to Mr Gogoi, “she has not condemned the incident, which I feel is rather strange.”

It may be recalled the entire peace process was revived recently while a forum headed by the professor with Delhi University called on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in Delhi and urged him to revive the process.

When the delegation called on National Security Adviser MK Narayanan sought a direct proposal to the Government from the ULFA top brass to this effect.

The Chief Minister further asserted that the Centre’s stand on talks with the ULFA was clear, he said direct contact with the top leadership of the outfit was necessary for the purpose.

Comments

Sanjoy Hazarika's picture

What is this" peace process" that people are writing about and so excited about, especially the media. You have a group of well-meaning people who do not have any independent contact with Ulfa, as far as I can see, and certainly no clear authorization from them to negotiate. All that this group is doing is requesting the Govt. of India to "talk". The GOI has said it won't until Ulfa leaders come for talks unconditionally. This, the latter have said, they won't. So what peace process are we talking about -- it has no support from either side and is obviously not regarded seriously by too many people in the state and other parts of the NE. It would be better is the media took a dispassionate look at the whole issue instead of rushing into print or broadcast every time. In this case, we have a group of well-meaning citizens wanting to promote peace, which of course is commendable but does not go very far. It is important to note that the PCG, which has set up by Ulfa, may be defunct but it has not been disbanded.

Pages

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

Side event on Extractive issue in indigenous areas at the 29th UNHRC Session, Geneva

UNHRC stresses NE indigenous

17 Jun 2015 - 1:00pm | Babul Gogoi
A slew of steps to ensure sustainable development in the north eastern region struck global attention when human rights organizations from the region raised the issue at the United Nations Human...

Oil distributes mosquito nets at Sadiya

20 Jun 2013 - 10:52pm | Ripunjoy Das
Oil India Limited under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program has taken up an initiative of distributing mosquito nets to flood affected people of the two districts of Dibrugarh and...

State level workshop on river dams at Golaghat

17 Jul 2011 - 3:27am | Ritupallab Saikia
The Assam College Teachers Associations’ DR College unit in collaboration with Vox Populi and NEADS, NGOs, organised a state level workshop on River Dams at DR College auditorium yesterday...

Debbie Stothard to interact with Guwahati scribes

6 Dec 2018 - 1:26pm | AT News
Guwahati: Debbie Stothard, a pro-democracy human rights defender who used to work as a journalist, community educator and trainer in Malaysia, Thailand and Australia, will interact with the member-...

Other Contents by Author

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has ordered a high level pobe into the killing of civilian Dulen Baruah during a raid by CRPF recently in Moran’s Rangali Himpora gaon.According to information, additional chief secretary will probe into it. Another magisterial probe by Sivasagar additional deputy commissioner has already begun.On the other hand, thousands of people on Wednesday blocked the National Highway No 37 in Moranhat demanding action against those involved in the killing of a civilian Dulen Baruah on the eve of Rongali Bihu. This has stalled the movement of traffic services in the area forcing the district administration to rush the additional deputy commissioner and circle...
Police on Tuesday have arrested a high level officer of the state animal husbandry and veterinary department accusing him of killing a deer at the Amchang Reserved Forest. According to information, deputy director of the department Dr Shivaji Baruah was arrested after he was caught red handed over by local residents of Amchang. Eyewitness said a few local residents early in the morning spotted two persons carrying a deer inside a sack after it was killed. When they were asked they cited Dr baruah’s name who was waiting to lift the deer on a car. Then the people reached Dr Baruah who was waiting for his two associates on his car bearing No AS -01-T-5767 also managed to escape from the...
The Centre has a scheme worth Rs 96,59,00,000 for conservation and development of altogether 135 sattra in Assam, mostly, in Majuli.Disclosing this, Union minister for tourism informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that the Centre has received a detailed project proposal for conservation and development of 135 sattra was received from the Assam Government.She also said these institutions have been identified in the Ist Phase of the Scheme for their development adding that the project proposal has been forwarded to Planning Commission for its consideration.The ministry of culture has suggested constitution of an Expert Group consisting of eminent members from various fields such as Archeology...
Fifty new members to Rajya Sabha, including three from Assam were sworn in today by Chairman Hamid Ansari. The MPs from Assam who took the oath were Congress candidate and Assam Congress president Bhubneswar Kalita, BPP(H) leader Biswajit Doimary and AGP candidate and former Union minister Birendra Prasad Baishya. Ansari welcomed the newly elected members and said he looked forward to their contribution towards enriching the traditions of the House.
A civilian was killed during a joint operation against ULFA by police and CRPF in Moranhat under Sivasagar district on Monday. According to information, acting on some input, Moranhat police and CRPF with the help of a few surrendered ULFA militants conducted a raid at Rangali Himpora gaon. Police and CRPF raided the house of Dulen Baruah with the input that a few ULFA cadres were staying at his house. As soon as they reached Dulen Baruah’s house, they started indiscriminate firing and Baruah who was inside thee died on the spot. Later police picked up three youths namely Simanta Baruah, Hitesh Konwar and Jiban Baruah for ULFA link. Police have claimed to have recovered recovered an...
Noted litterateur and peace broker Mamoni Roisom Goswami has said that ULFA has again expressed its desire to revive the peace process. Talking to a private satellite news channel Goswami said ULFA commander –in-Chief Paresh Baruah conveyed his outfit’s willingness for talk while he was talking to her over telephone. But she said the question of sovereignty has still to be considered. She urged the banned outfit to shun the path of violence for a peaceful Assam. Notably, addressing a bihu function on Sunday, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi appealed the misguided youths to eschew the path of violence from this year saying it will help the people get a healthy and wealthy state.
Assam is celebrating Rongali bihu on Monday with much pomp and gaiety. Today is Bor bihu. Elders are being honoured with bihuwans which include gamucha, hachati and a cheleng seeking blessings from them. The young ones are also blessed for well being for the year which begins on Monday. The sounds drums, pipes and flutes are making the Rongali bihu celebration more colourful.Rongghar premises: The entire Rang ghar premises in the outskirt of the historic Sivasagar district has turned into a mini Assam on Monday while people of all castes and communities thronged in thousands to showcase their rich cultural heritage. The grand function began with the huchari participated by 100 dancing girls...
Assam is celebrating its much-vaunted Rongali bihu from Sunday with a clarion call to the misguided youths to eschew the path of violence. Sunday was garu bihu. Cattle in large number across the state were taken to the rivers for puja offering with traditional favour in the morning.Bihu functions also started from Sunday morning. Participating in the Latashil Bihu function in the morning Chief minister Tarun Gogoi appealed to the misguided youths to shun the path of violence to make Assam a haven of peace. He also hoped that the bihu celebrations will clear the path of a peaceful and progressive Assam. He participated in the bihu huchai by dancing and beating a drum for sometimes.Another...
Former President of Asom Sahitya Sabha Dr. Nagen Saikia has been awarded the prestigious Assam Valley Literary award 2007 by the most celebrated Hindi Poet, Critic, translator Ashok Bajpaeyi at a function organized at ITA Machkhowa in Guwahati on 12-04-08. Pix by UB Photos.
Bangladesh has denied the presence of ULFA commander in chief Paresh Baruah but virtually admitted that the most wanted man was very much there. Addressing press joint conference on Saturday in Delhi, Bangladesh Rifles Director general Major General Sakil Ahmed said the ULFA chief “is no longer” on the soil of Bangladesh indirectly admitted that he was there very much.On its side, BSF handed over a list of 117 northeast militant camps operating on Bangladesh soil to its Bangladeshi counterpart and also asked them to hand over ULFA chief Paresh Barua.BSF has claimed Barua is hiding in Bangladesh. But Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) chief Major General Shakil Ahmed emphatically stated...