Centre to Sign Tripartite Peace-Deal with Pro-Talk-Ulfa on December 29
Guwahati: The Government of India has fixed December 29 to sign a tripartite peace agreement with United liberation front of Asom (Ulfa) in presence of union home minister Amit Shah and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarm.
Informing that ministry of home affairs would be finalising the draft agreement in a meeting on Wednesday with Ulfa leaders camping in New Delhi, the Ulfa general secretary Anup Chetia who is also in national capital told reporters that Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will also attend the ceremony called for signing the peace-pact. He however clarified that they are yet to finalise the peace-pact.
The peace pact is expected to have some economic package for Assam besides some significant steps to give protections for indigenous communities. According to sources, a financial package, a review of the citizenship list over the issue of illegal immigrants, new measures of land reservation, and rights for the indigenous communities of Assam might figure in the final deal. In addition, new provisions of political, economic, and cultural safeguards for the indigenous communities may also find a place in the deal.
It is significant Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been reiterating his commitment of securing a peace accord with Ulfa's pro-talk faction soon. Mr Sarma has called for an end to violent activities in Assam and urged all Ulfa factions to recognise the negative impact of their actions on regional development.
Top pro-talk Ulfa leaders, led by Arbinda Rajkhowa, Anup Chetia and Sashadhar Choudhury, are in Delhi to finalise the deal with senior home ministry officials.
The pro-talks faction has also demanded constitutional and political reforms to safeguard the identity and resources of Assam’s indigenous people, including their land rights. In April, the Union government presented a draft agreement. A previous round of talks between the two sides took place in Delhi in August. The pro-talk faction of Ulfa had submitted a 12- point charter of demands to the Centre. The peace talks had begun in 2011.
The Ulfa was formed in April 1979 following an agitation against undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan). It splintered into two factions in February 2011, with the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led faction renouncing violence and agreeing to unconditional talks with the government. Paresh Baruah, leading the other faction renamed as Ulfa-Independent, opposes the peace-talks.
The anti-talk faction of Ulfa, led by Paresh Barua, has recently attempted a resurgence with skirmishes and attempted bombings—an apparent final effort, perceived by security forces and intelligence communities, to disrupt the proposed peace-accord.
