6, April 2005	Wednesday	26 Safar 1426

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GUWAHATI, April 5: The provincial government in India’s troubled northeastern state of Assam announced on Tuesday a general amnesty to separatists who lay down arms and surrender before April 30. The amnesty is open to four outlawed groups — the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and the Dima Haolam Daoga (DHD)— who field several thousand militants.

“The offer for amnesty has been notified keeping in mind the advent of Bihu,” Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi told AFP, referring to the Assamese lunar new year to be celebrated on April 14.

“Anybody who surrenders during the amnesty period will be pardoned of their previous offences and charges pending against them,” Gogoi said.

A similar amnesty offer last year saw nearly a thousand rebels surrender.

“The idea ... is to encourage militants to join the mainstream of life without fear of the legal wrangles that normally haunt surrendered rebels.”

The amnesty comes despite ULFA militants carrying out a string of explosions in Assam targeting security personnel, government installations and crude oil pipelines.

A police spokesman said that in the past three weeks ULFA had carried out at least 40 powerful explosions and grenade attacks killing five people and wounding 70 more.

“Casualties to human life apart, there were at least five attacks on oil installations and pipelines, besides targeting government symbols like telephone exchanges and transmission towers,” the official said.

ULFA, which has been fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979, offered to hold peace talks with New Delhi if the federal government agreed to discuss their main demand of sovereignty or independence.—AFP