India News Online » News Analysis » Indian Politics » 

North East : Assam peace process : ULFA calls truce

	August 21, 2006

The north-eastern state of Assam is all set to have a sigh of relief from insurgency as one of the major militant outfits, United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), finally announced on August 18 “cessation of hostilities” for the first time in its three-decade-old armed campaign for a separate homeland.



In an e-mailed message to the media in Guwahati, ULFA chairman” Arabindo Rajkhowa said the organisation “respected the Centre’s decision to suspend Army operations and as a reciprocal gesture, has announced (the) cessation of hostilities.”



Rajkhowa’s e-mail expressed the hope that ULFA’s decision would pave the way for direct talks with the Centre. He also warned “evil forces” against taking advantage of the “ceasefire” to malign his organisation. Rajkhowa said the ULFA’s decision to stop hostilities to facilitate talks was a reflection of the popular mood in Assam.



In a statement through the People’s Consultative Group (PCG), he, however, cautioned against any sabotage activities in the name of the outfit to scuttle the peace initiative.



In a clarification on August 19, the ULFA chief said he did not announce a unilateral ceasefire, adding that “We will exercise restraint.”



On holding direct talks with the Centre, Rajkhowa said they had been awaiting fulfilment of New Delhi’s assurances at the third round of discussions with the PCG.



Both the ULFA and the PCG have been maintaining that the Centre had agreed to release five arrested ULFA leaders to facilitate direct talks.



The ULFA chairman expressed the hope that the Centre would take positive steps for the release of the arrested leaders.



Earlier in New Delhi, the Centre on August 18 held discussions with two mediators negotiating on behalf of the ULFA for direct talks with the outlawed group.



Emerging from the talks chaired by National Security Advisor M. K. Narayanan, Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal told reporters: “It was a good meeting. It was positive and we have decided to meet again after a few days.” The two mediators, noted writer Indira Goswami and Rebati Phukan, said that they reviewed progress made after the last meeting on June 22 between the ULFA-nominated People’s Consultative Group and the Centre.



Asked about the Centre’s response to the ULFA’s demand for the release of five jailed leaders, Goswami said: “We are hopeful.”



New Delhi’s masterstroke



The Centre on August 13 declared a unilateral ceasefire that was conditional and limited to 10 days. Observers described the New Delhi’s decision to halt anti-insurgency operations in Assam as a “masterstroke” in saving the fragile peace in the region from breaking down.



The timing of the announcement of suspension of military operations against the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was even more significant as it came despite a wave of separatist bombings in the last few days that killed nearly 10 people and wounded 50 others.



“As a goodwill gesture, the central government decided to suspend all offensive operations against militants in the state with immediate effect (August 13) for a period of 10 days,” Assam Chief Secretary S. Kabilan told IANS. “Police would, however, maintain law and order duties,” he added.



There were clear signs that the much-hyped peace process initiated by the ULFA in October last year was on the brink of collapse with the rebel group staging a string of explosions in the past week, including a landmine explosion that killed six police commandos.



The ULFA came back with a vengeance on August 5 after lying low for nearly 45 days following Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s call for ‘restraint’ by both security forces and the rebels.



The ULFA, a major rebel group fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979, is engaged in talks with New Delhi through intermediaries - collectively called the People’s Consultative Group (PCG) - comprising civil society leaders. The 11 intermediaries were chosen by the ULFA last October to begin exploratory talks with New Delhi. The PCG has held three rounds of talks aimed at paving the way for direct dialogue between New Delhi and the ULFA leadership. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired the first round on Oct 26. Shivraj Patil led the last round, held in New Delhi on June 22.



In that round of discussions, both sides had called for restraint with New Delhi promising to set free five top jailed ULFA leaders to facilitate direct talks.



But since the June 22 talks, New Delhi faltered on the commitments and instead stepped up its anti-insurgency operations against the ULFA, killing at least 16 rebels and capturing half a dozen.



The ULFA warned the government, saying New Delhi was going back on its promise of restraint and was taking no steps to release its jailed leaders. And with contradictory statements being made by both the Assam government and New Delhi regarding direct talks and the question of releasing the imprisoned leaders, ULFA’s patience wore thin and it began a massive counter-attack last week.



Despite a heavy security blanket, ULFA bombers managed to wreak havoc hurling grenades and triggering blasts with ease, putting the state authorities to shame. There was panic all around and with Independence Day approaching, New Delhi decided to don the thinking cap and offer a temporary cessation of operations. This is a move that could put the ULFA on the back-foot and force the outfit to respond positively with a similar truce.



Another aspect that New Delhi should now work on is to set the bureaucratic wheel moving to get the five jailed ULFA leaders released so that the outfit does not have any grouse left not to come for direct dialogue with the government.



If the ULFA, even after such positive gestures from New Delhi, dithers on holding talks, it would be suicidal for the rebels as the commoners in Assam, who are craving for peace, would never forgive the outfit.



It is believed that once direct talks begin, a new era of hope and peace would dawn in this restive state where the drumbeat of violence echoes almost every single day.