CPN-M denies any link with Indian separatists

The Communist Party of Nepal ( Maoist) (CPN-M) has denied the party's any relationship with Indian separatists of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), local newspaper the Himalayan Times reported Thursday.

Baburam Bhattarai, the second-in-command of the CPN-M, on Wednesday denied the allegations that the ULFA have made Nepal as their new base with the help of CPN-M, saying "this is totally baseless, we don't know anybody from ULFA and we have never had any relationship with them at any point in the past. These allegations could have been made to try and derail Nepal's peace process and drag us into disputes."

Ghan-akanta Bora and his wife Tulsi, both senior ULFA leaders, Tuesday surrendered to Indian army and civil authorities in Assam State of India, according to local media.

"The ULFA have set up some bases in Nepal with the help of the Maoist guerrillas and the outfit was preparing to shift a large number of cadres and leaders to the neighboring country (Nepal)," a senior Indian army commander quoted the couple as saying on Wednesday.

"We have been in touch with the Maoist groups in Nepal and procuring arms, ammunition, and explosives for the ULFA," Bora told journalists on the sidelines of the surrender ceremony.

Source: Peopole's Daily Online, June 7, 2007