Talks only if sovereignty is discussed: Ulfa

"We are ready to hold talks with the Indian government only if our core demand of sovereignty is discussed," Paresh Baruah, commander-in-chief of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), was quoted as saying by the local media in Assam yesterday.

The Ulfa leader was reacting to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's desire to hold talks with the outfit to solve 25-years of violent militancy in the state.

Manmohan Singh had met Ulfa's emissary and noted Assamese writer Indira Goswami in New Delhi Tuesday for initiating measures to hold negotiations with the outfit.

"We want a written assurance from the government of India mentioning that the issue of sovereignty will be discussed if any talks are to be held," Baruah said.

The Ulfa has scaled down its earlier preconditions for holding peace talks with the government the outfit had earlier insisted that negotiations be held in a third country and under the supervision of the UN with the main topic of discussion being the issue of sovereignty.

"Now the Ulfa has given up two of their three preconditions and simply insisting that the issue of sovereignty be discussed," Goswami said.

"During my meeting with the Prime Minister I stressed on the fact that agreeing to talk with the Ulfa on their demand for sovereignty does not necessarily mean the government will have to grant independence."

Goswami said that the Prime Minister told her he would discuss the Ulfa's precondition with experts before taking any decision in inviting the rebels for talks.

The Ulfa, founded in 1979, is fighting for an independent homeland in Assam.

Intelligence officials say the Ulfa has about 3,000 fighters and is among one of the powerful rebel armies in the northeast.