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UWAHATI: Assam has got a government-appointed interlocutor for the first time in 30 years of militancy to mediate with militant outfits. Peace negotiator Pradyot Chandra Haldar, a former Intelligence Bureau (IB) director who was appointed for the post by the Centre last month, reached here on Thursday.
The Centre proposed to hold talks with the DHD (J), UPDS and the NDFB (pro-talks) and appointed Haldar in consultation with the state government as the interlocutor last October. Haldar refused to spell out his plans on initiating talks with these three outfits on his arrival. "First, I will consult with the state government officials," said Haldar who is on a "familiarization trip". However, sources said Haldar met chief minister Tarun Gogoi and chief secretary P C Sharma separate later in the afternoon.
In the past, every peace process with militant outfits had been started after direct communication between the outfit and the Union government. Ulfa held its first talks with the Centre in 1992 directly, and so did other outfits like UPDS, NDFB (pro-talks), DHD (Nunisa faction) and the erstwhile BLT.
Earlier, several individuals like legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika as well as social organizations like Asom Sahitya Sabha had come forward to mediate for peace talks between Ulfa and the Centre, but those didn't quite materialize. In 2005, noted writer Indira Goswami had offered to mediate, which was accepted by Ulfa. After she set the ball rolling, Ulfa had formed a nine-member panel of civil representatives called the Peoples Consultative Group, which then held three rounds of talks with the Centre before withdrawing itself.
Haldar, as an interlocutor, is the second man to hold such responsibility in the region after former home secretary K Padmanabhaiah, who had been the mediator in the peace talks with NSCN (IM). Sources said there has been no scheduled meeting between Haldar and leaders of any of the three rebel outfits.
UWAHATI: Assam has got a government-appointed interlocutor for the first time in 30 years of militancy to mediate with militant outfits. Peace negotiator Pradyot Chandra Haldar, a former Intelligence Bureau (IB) director who was appointed for the post by the Centre last month, reached here on Thursday.
The Centre proposed to hold talks with the DHD (J), UPDS and the NDFB (pro-talks) and appointed Haldar in consultation with the state government as the interlocutor last October. Haldar refused to spell out his plans on initiating talks with these three outfits on his arrival. "First, I will consult with the state government officials," said Haldar who is on a "familiarization trip". However, sources said Haldar met chief minister Tarun Gogoi and chief secretary P C Sharma separate later in the afternoon.
In the past, every peace process with militant outfits had been started after direct communication between the outfit and the Union government. Ulfa held its first talks with the Centre in 1992 directly, and so did other outfits like UPDS, NDFB (pro-talks), DHD (Nunisa faction) and the erstwhile BLT.
Earlier, several individuals like legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika as well as social organizations like Asom Sahitya Sabha had come forward to mediate for peace talks between Ulfa and the Centre, but those didn't quite materialize. In 2005, noted writer Indira Goswami had offered to mediate, which was accepted by Ulfa. After she set the ball rolling, Ulfa had formed a nine-member panel of civil representatives called the Peoples Consultative Group, which then held three rounds of talks with the Centre before withdrawing itself.
Haldar, as an interlocutor, is the second man to hold such responsibility in the region after former home secretary K Padmanabhaiah, who had been the mediator in the peace talks with NSCN (IM). Sources said there has been no scheduled meeting between Haldar and leaders of any of the three rebel outfits.
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