Guwahati: United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa has appealed to the chairman of People's Republic of China to offer safe passage to the ultras for temporary shelter in that country.

Rajkhowa in a letter faxed to the chairman on December 25, which was e-mailed to a section of the local media today (Dec 28, 2003), said that of late ''we have come under massive attack of Indo-Bhutan joint forces and our combatants have been forced to retreat upto Sino-Bhutan border due to all-out air and artillery campaigns''.

Rajkhowa said at this moment ''they have no options but to enter the territory of China to save their lives as they are negotiating with sub-zero temperature and starvation without any cloth and foodgrains''.

''We request you to permit them safe passage to your territory with minimum temporary hospitality necessary for their survival," the ULFA chairman appealed.

''We would be obliged if you show your traditional kindness to our brothers in arms in this very moment of exigency,'' he further said.