Second round of talks between ULFA, Centre today

Guwahati: The second round of talks between ULFA and the Centre will be held on Saturday in Delhi where ceasefire ground rules would be discussed, while government would decide on the lines the parley would progress.

"The ULFA-government meeting will decide on what lines the talks will be held and how the discussions will progress," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters.

ULFA sources said the team would discuss the ceasefire ground rules and urge the government to reciprocate the outfit's unilateral ceasefire.

The ULFA was unwilling to accept the term 'designated camps' and preferred that they be called 'nabanirman kendras', the sources said.

Their number should also be raised from three in the state to nine, the ULFA demanded.

A three-member ULFA team comprising its 'finance secretary' Chitrabon Hazarika, 'foreign secretary' Sashadhar Choudhury and 'deputy commander-in-chief' Raju Baruah left for Delhi during the day.

Gogoi also said the demand for a separate state would not be entertained.

"We are making it clear that as of today there will be no separate state as demanded by the KLNLF, the NDFB (National Democratic Front of Bodoland) and UPDS (United Peoples Democratic Front)," Gogoi said.

Gogoi said a meeting with Assam's ethnic militant group Karbi Longri National Liberation Front was also scheduled for Saturday in Delhi. Home Ministry officials will meet a three-member KLNLF team.

He, however, made it clear that there was no scope for negotiations on the KLNLF's demand for a separate state.

Stating that most of the militant outfits were willing for peace talks, the Chief Minister said, "We want to sign an agreement soon with the KLNLF and UPDS.

"The DHD-Jewel group has already come forward though we have differences with the Nunisa faction. But discussions are on with them," he said.

The Chief Minister said talks with the NDFP (Progressive) have begun and discussions with the anti-talk faction was also progressing.

He also said that adivasi militant outfit Assam All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) announced a unilateral ceasefire on Thursday expressing willingness to hold talks with the government.

On Maoist activities in Assam, Gogoi said his government was keeping a close watch so that they did not infiltrate from neighbouring states where they were active.