Click to play videoGuwahati Former intelligence officer Colonel Grewal, an expert in Northeast India, revealed to CNN-IBN that even as the People’s Consultative Group (PCG) engaged the Government in talks, foreign mercenaries have been training the ULFA in Bangladesh.
"French ex-servicemen have trained the terror elements as well as the ULFA elements in handling, using, making IEDs, using of mines and like in Bangladesh," says Colonel Grewal.
Grewal revealed the names of former French commandos who have allegedly been training the ULFA. "French para-commandoes, who have left the French army, are available in Thailand to anyone who will pay them the money. They will impart training in any part of the world," says Colonel Grewal.
Chairman of the UNLF, Sanayaima, revealed that the ULFA also shares camps with other Northeast rebel groups - notably the UNLF - in Myanmar's Sagaing Division.
Sanayaima was also certain that the ULFA peacetalks would fail. "ULFA's core issue is the restoration of Assam's sovereignty. So far, the Government of India has not responded to that. If ULFA wants to survive, they'll realise that just peace talks will not bring peace," says Sanayaima.
ULFA also wanted the Government to release five of its senior leaders. Amongst those demading the release is the outfit's vice-chairman, Pradeep Gogoi. "We want the sovereignty of Assam," he says.
In fact, Arup Borbora, one of the 11-member PCG appointed by ULFA to set the stage for talks with the Government, concedes that the Government was ready to discuss all issues.
"During the first round of discussions the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that there is no bar on part of the Government of India to discuss any issue or issues. As far as ULFA is concerned, it wants the issue of sovereignty should be discussed," says Borbora, a lawyer.
Strangely, talks with the PCG broke down because the ULFA refused to give a formal letter seeking the release of its leaders not over the issue of sovereignity. So, were the year-long talks just a ploy for ULFA to regroup militarily?
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.