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ULFA Peace Accord
News: The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) signed a historic tripartite peace deal with the Government of India and the state government of Assam.
Background:
• The agreement was signed with the pro-talks faction of ULFA under Arabinda Rajkhowa while the other faction led by Paresh Baruah (known as ULFA-I) has not joined the peace process.
What are the provisions in the Peace accord?
• Reservation of Assembly Seats: The peace agreement includes the reservation of 97 assembly seats in Assam for indigenous people
• Investment: An investment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore is included in the accord.
• Recognition of Annual Assam Floods: The accord declares the annual Assam floods as a “national priority”.
• Non-Violence: ULFA has agreed to renounce violence, disarm, disband the armed organization, vacate their occupied camps, and participate in the peaceful democratic process established by law.
• Cultural Safeguards and Land Rights: The accord addresses long-standing political, economic, and social issues in Assam. It includes provisions for cultural safeguards and land rights for the indigenous population.
• Formal Recognition of Six Communities: A key ULFA demand is the formal recognition of six communities - Moran, Muttock, Tai-Ahom, Koch-Rajbongshi, Sootea, and Tea Tribes - as Scheduled Tribes (ST).
Review of Citizenship List: The peace deal entails a review of the citizenship list, addressing concerns over illegal immigrants.
What is ULFA? What was their objective?
• The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) is an armed militant organization operating in the Northeast Indian state of Assam. It seeks to establish an independent, sovereign nation state of Assam for the indigenous Assamese people through an armed struggle in the Assam conflict.
• For over 44 years, this ‘struggle’ has been chequered with kidnappings and extortion, executions and bomb blasts, leading to tragic loss of life in Assam and beyond.
• A group of radical thinkers, led by Bhimakanta Buragohain, Arabinda Rajkhowa, Anup Chetia, Pradip Gogoi, Bhadreshwar Gohain and Paresh Baruah were the main leaders.
• The ULFA had bases in 5 neighbouring countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal and Myanmar. They also were allegedly known to have contacts with Pakistan’s ISI who would often train the militants.
Which factors contributed to insurgency in Assam?
• Perceived sense of neglect and marginalization from the central government.
• Advent and influx of people in search of jobs and interests in region’s tea, coal and oil economy was seen as a threat to Assam’s indigenous people’s cultural identity.
• Partition and subsequent exodus of refugees into the state from erstwhile East-Pakistan further exacerbated problems.
• Assam’s economy faced challenges, including underdevelopment, unemployment, and a lack of industrialization.
• Demand for greater autonomy and control over Assam’s resources where locals sought to protect the interests of the indigenous population and assert Assamese identity.
Path towards Peace:
• In 2005, the ULFA formed an 11-member ‘People’s Consultative Group’ (PCG) comprising noted intellectuals and Jnanpith awardee author late Indira Raisom Goswami. The committee mediated three rounds of talks before the ULFA walked out of the discussions and unleashed a new wave of terror.
• Some ULFA commanders like Arabinda Rajkhowa, 2008 onwards, would again strive for peace talks with the government. However, Paresh Baruah was staunchly opposed to talks.
• The pro-talks faction, in 2012, submitted a 12-point charter of demands to the central government, which was finally responded to earlier this year. It culminated eventually in the Tripartite peace agreement as seen recently.
Is it an incomplete peace?
• Rajeev Bhattacharya, veteran journalist and expert in ULFA says the agreement will work depending on government’s commitment.
• While Bhattacharya declined to comment on how “complete” the deal is, he agreed that major question marks remain on how exactly it would work out. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has said he is keen on engaging with the anti-talks faction as well, but Baruah remains steadfast in his demand for Assam’s sovereignty.
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