Friday, June 23 2006 12:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Guwahati: New Delhi's positive signals in brokering peace with a dominant separatist group in the northeastern state of Assam could help end close to three decades of bloodshed in the region.

On Thursday, Home Minister Shivraj Patil took a considerate stand by removing one of the biggest stumbling blocks between peace and violence by virtually agreeing to release five top jailed leaders of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).

The announcement was made after the third round of peace talks held in New Delhi between ULFA representatives and government peace negotiators led by Patil.

ULFA's demand for releasing five of its senior leaders currently in jail on charges ranging from murder to secession was seen as one of the last big thorns in the road to peace.

ULFA, which has been fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979, last October appointed an 11-member People's Consultative Group (PCG) comprising prominent civil society members to represent it in the talks with the government.

The stage is now set for direct talks between the elusive ULFA leadership led by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah - according to Indian intelligence officials, both were believed to be operating out of Bangladesh in carrying out their hit-and-run guerrilla strikes in Assam.

Patil said during the talks that New Delhi would consider the 'issue of releasing five jailed ULFA leaders in consultation with the Assam government'.

The Assam Government had already announced it was ready to release the jailed ULFA leaders for the greater interest of peace.

"We have made our position very clear that we mean business. We are ready to release some of the jailed leaders if that could bring the ULFA leaders for direct talks with the government and in turn bring permanent peace to the region," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told sources.

The ball is now is in the ULFA's court. The rebel leadership now has to come clear on two counts - not backtrack on holding talks once the jailed leaders are released and assure that the outfit would not indulge in violent acts during the peace process.

Similarly, the authorities would also have to show restraint in conducting anti-insurgency operations so that it does not derail the peace process. Both the ULFA and the government should be sensitive and respect the wishes of the people of Assam who are craving for peace.

Some intelligence and police officials are sceptical on the issue of releasing the jailed rebels and they have every reason to be so.

The last round of direct talks between ULFA rebels and the Indian government took place in New Delhi in 1992 after the government released five rebel leaders from jail for the negotiations.

The talks ended abruptly after the five ULFA rebels who were released from prison for the dialogue with then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao went underground.

"The situation then was quite different from now. Our leadership is very keen to resolve the conflict through negotiations," jailed ULFA leader Pranati Hazarika said while being brought to a local court for a trial.

The ULFA is one of the most organised militant groups in India's northeast, where more than 30 rebel groups operate with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.

At least 15,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in Assam since 1979 when the ULFA, the state's first rebel group, was founded.