The Government of India (GoI) and the negotiation-friendly pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) are preparing for a momentous signing event on December 31 in New Delhi. This agreement is viewed as a major stride towards enduring peace and entails unparalleled economic advancement along with robust safeguards for indigenous communities.
As per information, on December 31, a trilateral peace agreement is expected to be signed between the Central Government of New Delhi, the Assam Government, and the insurgent group ULFA. For the signing of the peace accord, ULFA’s pro-talk faction’s General Secretary Anup Chetia and Foreign Secretary Shashadhar Choudhury have already travelled to New Delhi.
During the signing of the agreement, ULFA’s President Arabinda Rajkhowa, Finance Secretary Chitrabon Hazarika, Deputy Military Chief Raju Baruah, Publicity Secretary Mithinga Daimary, and Cultural Editor Pranati Deka are expected to be present. Additionally, it has been revealed that a delegation of ten members from ULFA’s Executive Council will also travel to New Delhi for this event.
Anup Chetia, a prominent leader of the ULFA’s pro-talk faction, along with Arvind Rajkhowa and other members, have been engaged in critical discussions leading up to the signing ceremony. The peace agreement, which has been meticulously reviewed by the Union Government, addresses key issues such as Assam’s economic revival, resolution of boundary delimitation concerns, and the safeguarding of indigenous rights.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has affirmed his dedication to achieving a peace agreement with the pro-talk faction of ULFA in the near future. Sarma has emphasised the need to halt violent activities in Assam and has urged all factions of ULFA to acknowledge the adverse effects of their actions on regional development.
ULFA-I pro-talk faction leader Anup Chetia said to the media, “Our demands remain the same, though the final discussion is still awaited. Yes, Assam CM is likely to be part of the signing ceremony in Delhi”.
However, the details of what will be included in this eagerly awaited peace agreement between ULFA and the government are still not clear. There have been mixed signals even from the leadership of ULFA, with some members expressing reservations, and even the leadership itself maintaining a level of secrecy on this matter, as reported by various media outlets.
Amid the ongoing discussions related to the peace accord, the recent incident of encounter of five youths by the security forces in Tinsukia district has added to the tension in Assam.
In essence, while the pro-talk ULFA leadership had initially aimed to create a significant impact on the government through the signed agreement, the Chairman of ULFA(Independent), Paresh Baruah, remains firm in his stance. Despite the signing of this accord, Paresh Baruah or ULFA(Independent) is unlikely to give up armed resistance. Moreover, if we look at the context of the 6th clause of the Assam Accord signed in 1985, even if there is an agreement now with the pro-talk ULFA leadership, the benefits for Assam from this accord are yet to be clearly defined in the coming days.
