No lasting solution if talks held sans Paresh Barua: experts

Guwahati, Dec 5 (PTI) Arrest of United Liberation
Front of Assam (ULFA) 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa may have
triggered hopes for talks to settle Assam's (India's
northeastern state) vexed insurgency problem but both experts
and members of the group maintain that without
'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua there can be no lasting
solution.

"Paresh Barua is someone who cannot be ignored
altogether. If the government is planning to go ahead with
talks by involving the 'chairman', then it is a big mistake,"
said noted litterateur and former facilitator for peace talks
Indira Goswami.
"The government may have its reasons, but the person
controlling the cadres and cash cannot be ignored. All said
and done, peace talks without Barua will be futile and
counter-productive," the former Delhi University professor
said.
Former state police chief Harekrishna Deka said
Rajkhowa's detention may have paved the way for a dialogue
between the group and the Indian Government but if Barua is
out of the process, then there will be no end to violence in
the state.
"Barua will go all out to create disturbances in the
state as he still has his group of followers and he will be
desperate to prove the group's strength," he said.
ULFA's arrested 'vice chairman' Pradip Gogoi also
asserted that both Rajkhowa and Barua must be present for
talks. PTI DG
ANU


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