ASSAM – ULFA’S CLIMB-DOWN

United Liberation Front of Assom (ULFA) confined to Assam only is a hard-core terrorist organization like Islamist terror organizations like Lashkar-E-Taiba, Jaish-E-Muhammad, Harkat-Ul-Mujahideen, Al-Queida etc which extend to larger areas. In the 1970s and 1980s ULFA repeatedly wreaked havoc in Assam killed hundreds of common citizens, injured as many, damaged properties worth millions turning that State into a virtual towering inferno. Even after that demanding sovereignty it intermittently struck hard and life in Assam turned out to be a nightmare. Similarly many oil-refineries in Assam and neighbouring areas went up in flames causing massive loss to the exchequer. AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) in fact proved counter-productive and its victims always were innocent citizens as the master brains behind each terrorist attack went into hiding in the forests and neighbouring nations like Bangladesh and Myanmar after committing the dastardly acts. The neighbouring country of Bhutan never gave asylum to the leaders of ULFA and those who were apprehended immediately handed over to India.
While Begum Khalida Zia ruled Bangladesh her vindictive attitude towards India was notorious the leaders who sought refuge were provided with refuge and comforts and hence had all facilities available to manage and control the activities of ULFA without fear of being apprehended. Please note that Arabind Rajkhowa, ULFA Chairman was controlling and inspiring his organization comfortably seated in Bangladesh when he was caught and extradited to India by the friendly govt of Sheikh Haseena Wajed, daughter of legendary leader of Bangladesh Banga Bandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. Both Khalida Zia the wife of former Bangladesh head Zia-Ur-Rehman and Sheikh Haseena are always at loggerheads and each’s attitude towards India differs.
ULFA once stuck to its declared position of snatching sovereignty for Assam, and would satisfy with nothing other than that and govt of India never succumbing to the repealed pressures remaining adamant with each continuing on a collision course for decades. The decades old collision and encounters naturally killed the peaceful atmosphere in that State.
Each time a terror act was committed and several got killed not only the State rulers and leaders from the Centre ranging from Prime Minister, Home Minister, Defence Minister or UPA Chairperson landed on the soil of Assam and pledged to take action against the culprits involved, instituted enquiry committees and that’s that. After committing the mayhem the terror leaders went into hiding in the forests the life in the forests they are very much acquainted with or fled to neighbouring nations like Bangladesh and Myanmar. AFSPA never proved to be productive as the real culprits always remained out of reach. The innocent ones always fell prey to them and as AFSPA was given extensive powers and those who caught in their net were handled ruthlessly. Even women were dealt with brutally here it is worth remembering that wherever AFSPA is in force, the story is the same. Almost the entire North-East comes under the jurisdiction of AFSPA and please note Irom Chanu Sharmila since 2000 is on fast unto death demanding repeal of AFSPA, with no positive results forthcoming.
Same is the case in Jammu & Kashmir and Kashmir has already witnessed many a incident of violence, deaths and injuries.
Come back to Assam.
Arabind Rajkhowa upon extradition by Bangladesh was imprisoned for the last few months and on coming to realize that ULFA’s demand for sovereignty for Assam was immaterial conceded for a reconciliation talk with Central govt.
That led to a rift in ULFA, with ULFA’s Commander-in-Chief Paresh Baruah, who is hiding in Myanmar is totally against the decision of Arabind Rajkhowa and his followers decision to engage in talks with India govt but Rajkhowa has not obliged him. He proceeded on the lines of holding talks with the Central govt and last week he flew all the way to Delhi and held talks with our Home Minister Chidambaram and Home Secretary G.K.Pillai. Rajkhowa and his companions even went to the extent of tendering apology for the acts of omission and commission and made a climb-down from the demand for sovereignty to Assam. The talks went on a cordial ambience and more talks are likely to follow. While writing this a report of Rajkhowa and co. holding talks with Prime Minister appeared in the media.
Assam’s under-development, criminal neglect of the State by the higher-ups, lack of basic amenities all are reasons for the birth of ULFA and the demand for sovereignty and after the talks let’ hope the era of blood-shed would come to an end at last. But an adamant Commander-in-Chief Paresh Baruah who is entrenched somewhere in Myanmar is waiting in the wings with his reservations. That is something we would have to worry about.