Sangeeta Das
The double engine governments of Bharat
and Assam are on the verge of achieving a historic peace deal with the pro-talk
faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom or ULFA as they are scheduled to
sign it on December 29, said insiders.
Assam had witnessed a lull in incidents
related to insurgency or militancy. However, in recent days the problem cropped
up again after few incidents of explosions by another faction – the ULFA-I – in
few parts of Upper Assam.
The Narendra Modi Government at the
Centre and Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma Government in Assam have been trying hard to
attain hundred per cent peace in the region. Subsequently, if the tripartite agreement
happens, it will be seen as a huge success for both governments.
As per few prominent media reports, ULFA
general secretary Anup Chetia and foreign secretary Sasadhar Choudhury are in
Delhi and are expected to hold discussions with Home Minister Amit Shah ahead
of finalising the deal and the Centre’s interlocuter, AK Mishra, on Tuesday.
What’s
On Card In The Peace Deal
- A financial package
- A review of the citizenship list related
to illegal immigrants - Fresh measures of land reservation
- Rights for the indigenous communities of
Assam - New provisions of political, economic,
and cultural safeguards for the indigenous communities
During his recent stay in national
capital Delhi, CM Himanta met Intelligence Bureau or IB Director Tapan Kumar
Deka, and National Investigation Agency or NIA Director General Dinkar Gupta.
Reportedly, former IB Special Director and
incumbent advisor on northeast affairs AK Mishra, and the Centre’s interlocutor
for ULFA peace talk AK Mishra met CM Himanta.
ULFA
Pro-Talk Faction Demands
- A status report on missing ULFA leaders
and cadres - General amnesty on pending cases
- Constitutional and political
arrangements and reforms - Protection of the identity and material
resources of the local indigenous population of Assam - Financial and economic package for Assam
- Settlement of all royalties on mines or minerals,
including oil on a retrospective compensatory basis - Rights of independent use for
sustainable economic development in the future - Illegal migration, its effect, and
required remedies - Sealing of international borders, river
patrolling - Development of a native force to man the
borders
The peace negotiation had begun in 2011
and there are 12 broad groupings for the objective.
However, the ULFA (Independent) faction headed
by its chief Paresh Baruah is not in line with other faction regarding the peace
talks. This faction is operating from the group’s den on the Bharat-Myanmar
border area.
CM Himanta, while responding to media persons
a day ago, had said, “If Paresh Baruah comes back every problem will be sorted
out.”
