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.