GUWAHATI, April 28: United Liberated Front of Assam chairman Arabind Rajkhowa and its commander-in chief Paresh Baruah are presently hiding in Bangladesh, apprehended ULFA vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi has said.Gogoi revealed they had not visited ULFA camps in Bhutan for the past two years, during interrogations, according to Army sources. Gogoi further disclosed that Rajkhowa and Barua were leading a lavish life style and had no sympathy for their cadres leading a difficult life in the Bhutan jungles. He said, the armed wing of ULFA had was out of control of its political wing which was in favour of talks with the government.
Gogoi said that the ULFA political leadership had realised the futility of their efforts and was very keen to negotiate with the government but the armed wing seemed to have a different opinion.
Also Gogoi spoke of the lack of any inner party democracy an indicator of which was that there was no general body meeting since 1993. Stating the ULFA was facing a financial crunch as onlya very low percentage of extortion money reached ULFA camps, Gogoi said a major portion of the money was being siphoned off by local leaders.
A large chunk of it was also being spent on supporting the lavish life style of the leaders and their families in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, the Guwahati High Court had passed a stricture on Monday against the Assam government for not allowing Gogoi to meet his family members and lawyers.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.