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Wednesday 13 July 2011

Rebels announce ceasefire in India

GAUHATI, July 12: A leading separatist group in India`s remote northeastern on Tuesday announced a unilateral cease-fire, moving closer to a peace dialogue to resolve a three-decade-old insurgency.

The United Liberation Front of Asom has been fighting since 1979 for an independent homeland for the ethnic Assamese in the state of Assam, about 1,000 miles (1,600 kms) east of New Delhi.

Arabinda Rajkhowa, chairman of the group better known by its acronym ULFA, issued a statement in Assam`s capital Gauhati in which he appealed to members to “scrupulously abide” by the cease-fire and take the peace process forward.

The insurgency has claimed an estimated 10,000 lives. The Indian government has offered talks previously on greater autonomy but has ruled out independence and said ULFA would have to give up violence. Officials did not immediately react to Tuesday`s statement.

Rajkhowa was released from a yearlong detention in January after his group split up last year and several of his colleagues were picked up by authorities in Bangladesh and handed over to India.

He commands some 2,500 members who are staying in designated camps set up by the government.

Even before Tuesday`s announcement, the militants have agreed to resolve their insurgency through political negotiations with the government. However, a rival splinter group headed by Commander Paresh Baruah, who is said to be in hiding near the China-Myanmar border, has opposed the peace process.—AP

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