The last time the NDFB leaders and Central government representative had come face-to-face for a ceasefire agreement which came into force from June 1 last year for one year.

The Bodo civil society group heaved a sigh of relief as talks will finally begin on Saturday after the dark cloud of uncertainty for the last couple of months during which the NDFB threatened on several occasions to pull out of ceasefire pact because of delay in holding talks.

The current truce between the NDFB and Government of India is set to expire on May 31. The Bodo militant group had declared unilateral ceasefire in October 2004 in response to the call given by civil society groups in Bodo society to opt for a negotiated settlement of the problem. However, a formal ceasefire pact was put into force from June 1, 2005.

A five-member delegation of the NDFB will leave for New Delhi tomorrow to begin the dialogue. It will be a tripartite discussion where representative from the Asom government will also be present.

Extension of the ceasefire is at the top of the agenda for discussion.

The NDFB had earlier sought information from New Delhi about the whereabouts of some of the top leaders including its central publicity secretary B Erakdao who had gone missing after the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) operation to evict the militants base from Bhutan territory in December, 2003. The outfit is most likely to treat it as a precondition to carry forward the dialogue process with the government.

UNI XC KK PR PC1748