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| Assam rebel chief willing to talk | Assam rebel chief willing to talk |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A separatist leader in the Indian state of Assam has said he would be willing to hold talks with the government if it sets no pre-conditions. | A separatist leader in the Indian state of Assam has said he would be willing to hold talks with the government if it sets no pre-conditions. |
| Paresh Barua, the head of the military wing of the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa), told the BBC that any talks "must be free and unfettered". | Paresh Barua, the head of the military wing of the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa), told the BBC that any talks "must be free and unfettered". |
| Mr Barua's comments came days after a leader of his group was handed over to Indian authorities by Bangladesh. | Mr Barua's comments came days after a leader of his group was handed over to Indian authorities by Bangladesh. |
| The Ulfa rebels have fought for a separate Assamese homeland since 1979. | The Ulfa rebels have fought for a separate Assamese homeland since 1979. |
| Mr Barua is the only senior Ulfa leader still at large - almost the entire top leadership of the rebel group is now in jail. | Mr Barua is the only senior Ulfa leader still at large - almost the entire top leadership of the rebel group is now in jail. |
| 'Hold a referendum' | 'Hold a referendum' |
| "We want to raise the issue of Assam's sovereignty. Delhi wants us to accept Indian sovereignty. So there is obviously a difference in perceptions but the same can be narrowed only through discussions," Mr Barua told the BBC by telephone from an undisclosed location. | "We want to raise the issue of Assam's sovereignty. Delhi wants us to accept Indian sovereignty. So there is obviously a difference in perceptions but the same can be narrowed only through discussions," Mr Barua told the BBC by telephone from an undisclosed location. |
| He said if India is a democracy it should allow the "voice of the people of Assam to be heard". | |
| "Negotiations must be free and unfettered. Or else India should hold a referendum or a plebiscite and let the people of Assam express themselves freely," Mr Barua said. | "Negotiations must be free and unfettered. Or else India should hold a referendum or a plebiscite and let the people of Assam express themselves freely," Mr Barua said. |
| "If they say they want to be part of India, so be it. We will accept the people's verdict but the conduct of the plebiscite should be free and fair and nobody should try to influence it." | "If they say they want to be part of India, so be it. We will accept the people's verdict but the conduct of the plebiscite should be free and fair and nobody should try to influence it." |
| Mr Barua alleged that the Indian government is not interested in "open negotiations." | Mr Barua alleged that the Indian government is not interested in "open negotiations." |
| "They want to split our organisation and that has been proved by what they did with our chairman recently," Mr Barua said. | "They want to split our organisation and that has been proved by what they did with our chairman recently," Mr Barua said. |
| Last week the Bangladeshi authorities handed over Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, his family and another key militant, to Indian officials in the Indian state of Meghalaya. | Last week the Bangladeshi authorities handed over Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, his family and another key militant, to Indian officials in the Indian state of Meghalaya. |
| Mr Rajkhowa had, in recent weeks, repeatedly expressed his desire to start negotiations and blamed Delhi for the delay. | Mr Rajkhowa had, in recent weeks, repeatedly expressed his desire to start negotiations and blamed Delhi for the delay. |
| Indian Home Minister P Chidamabaram had told the parliament that he expected a "positive political statement from the Ulfa". | Indian Home Minister P Chidamabaram had told the parliament that he expected a "positive political statement from the Ulfa". |
| But when Mr Rajkhowa did not agree to give up the demand for Assam's sovereignty, the efforts to start negotiations fell through. | But when Mr Rajkhowa did not agree to give up the demand for Assam's sovereignty, the efforts to start negotiations fell through. |