Informal talks with UALA on right track

OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, April 6: The informal talks between the state government  representatives and the United Achik Liberation Army (UALA)is on the  right track , another reason to believe on the likely decline on the  number of militant groups operating in the ravaged torn five district  of  Garo Hills in Meghalaya.

There were two official rounds of talks between the Government  representatives and the UALA leaders in the past couple of months,  confirmed a well placed official who is privy to the deliberations,  even as he said that the decision of the desigted camps is one aspect  that they are working upon to ensure that all the UALA cadres comes  over ground.

However, the UALA leadership has not communicated to the government  representatives on the desired location of the desigted camps. The  source attested the information, besides adding that decision on the  desigted camps will have to be taken collectively.

“The dialogue are well on track and the decision to have a head count  and base of the cadres is necessary to carry on from where we had  left”, stated a source, while expressing his optimism that the talks is  expected to take a more fruitful turn in the next two months.

The UALA, a split away faction of the disbanded breakaway faction of  the ANVC (ANVC-B) is expected to have around 70-80 odd cadres. It is  learnt that the cadres have been asked to report to their respective  area commanders along with the arms and ammunitions in order to  facilitate their location prior to the talks at a higher level.

The UALA, through a fringe group is known for some of the unwanted  activities in North Garo Hills a couple of years back. Its armory is  expected to consist of barely a dozen sophisticated Ak.47 Rifles and  other small arms.  

Meanwhile highly placed sources told this correspondent that the  government policy to snub the GNLA and AMEF readiness for talks stands  till date. The Union Government has already directed the state  Government ,not to entertain the GNLA in view of its violent  activities. On the other hand, the AMEF has been viewed as a bunch of  armed crimil gang.

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