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Assam : Delay in peace talks annoys Ulfa

	June 05, 2006

Peeved at the delay in the ongoing peace process, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has accused the government of insincerity and threatened to renew its “movement”.



In its mouthpiece Freedom on June 1, the outfit said that the third round of talks between the People’s Consultative Group and the Centre had not taken place even after the announcement of election results and distribution of ministerial portfolios.

The outfit said it had not disrupted the poll process out of respect for the people’s desire for a smooth dialogue, but now, it had no “other alternative” but to continue its “movement” parallel to the peace process, the Freedom said.



It also criticised the government for not revealing the whereabouts of 14 of its functionaries who went missing during Operation All Clear in Bhutan in 2003. The ULFA has toughened its stand at a time when the Centre is considering the release of the outfit’s jailed leaders, adhering to the recommendations of the state government.



The PCG had earlier warned Delhi that the peace process could be derailed if there were more arrests. The rebels also alleged that military operations and harassment by security forces had increased after it agreed to sit for peace talks.





Delhi not averse to freeing jailed rebels



In a related development, the state government indicated on May 31 that Delhi had reacted “positively” to its recommenda¬tion for the release of some incarcerated militant leaders and might announce its decision during talks with the ULFA-constitut¬ed People’s Consultative Group (PCG) sometime in the next few weeks.



An official said the announcement would come during the next round of talks, which the PCG has hinted could be its last. The team of mediators handpicked by ULFA has been maintaining that the militant leadership needs to start a direct dialogue with Delhi at the earliest.



The positive indication from the Centre to the proposal to release jailed militant leaders has come close on the heels of a warning from the PCG that the string of arrests of middle-ranked ULFAfunctionaries in North Bengal could jeopardise the peace process.



During the last round of talks in the capital, the PCG argued that the release of jailed ULFA leaders was crucial to the success of the peace process initiated by writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami. Most of these militant leaders are members of the Ulfa’s central executive, the outfit’s highest policy-making unit.



Dispur is understood to have recommended the release of the outfit’s veteran adviser, Bhimkanta Buragohain, vice-president Pradip Gogoi, cultural secretary Pranati Deka, publicity secre¬tary Mithinga Daimary and Ramu Mech. The government is also considering recommending the release of Ulfa’s 28 Battalion “commander” Mrinal Hazarika, one of those arrested in Siliguri recently.



The PCG members are expected to assemble in a day or two to review the situation and convey their stand to Raisom Goswami, who will then meet National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan to fix the date for the next round of talks. The New Delhi-based writer said recently that Ulfa’s participation in the peace talks depended on the outcome of the negotiations.





ASDC factions inch towards merger



The two factions of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) are heading towards a merger.



The Jayanta Rongpi-led faction, called the ASDC (Progres¬sive), held a meeting in this regard recently. Following this, the central executive of the parent group, led by Holiram Terang, held a meeting on June 2 to chalk out the modalities for the proposed merger.



Leaders of the two factions, however, refused to divulge details about the move before it fructifies into an actual merg¬er.



“Only a united effort can enable us to fulfil the long-cherished dreams of the people for a homeland of their own. It is the call of the people of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills and each of us has to respond to it,” Rongpi said.



The Autonomous State Demand Committee was floated in 1986 with Babu Rongpi and Bharat Timung as convenors. The regional political party, backed by the CPI (M-L), had been at the helm of the Karbi Anglong autonomous council till 2001.



In 2000, ideological differences surfaced between the lead¬ership of the CPI (M-L) and the ASDC, which triggered a split. Jayanta Rongpi floated his own group.



The schisms in the ASDC made the Congress once again relev¬ant in the politics of region, particularly in Karbi Anglong. In the 2001 Assembly and district council elections, the Congress got a majority. In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Congress can¬didate Birensingh Engti was elected, defeating three-term MP Rongpi and Alvin Teron, the Holiram Terang group’s candidate.







The parent group suffered another split just a fortnight before the last Assembly elections after the party leadership denied its three seniormost leaders tickets.