Army welcomes suspension of operations against ULFA

Imphal, Aug 19 (UNI) The Army has welcomed suspension of military operations against the ULFA, Eastern Command's GOC-in-C Lt Gen Arvind Sharma said here today.

''We should all give peace a chance,'' Lt Gen Sharma, who is on a two-day visit to Manipur, said.

The Army had carried out its duties and now it is the time for political consolidation, he added.

The security forces in Assam will not carry out any form of military operations for some time, he promised and hoped that the ULFA will also respond favourably to the positive step taken up by the government, the Eastern Army Commander said, but warned that suspension of operations does not mean that the troops will not do anything when attacked. ''The troops will remain vigilant, but their activities will remain confined to self defence,'' he said.

The Army was only assisting the civil administration and the time has come for a political solution, Lt Gen Sharma said.

He said there is peace in Nagaland and Asom was back on the peace track. Now Manipur is the only state which remains disturbed, he added.

Even in Manipur the Army has suspended operations against a dozen Kuki militant organisations. Gen Sharma stated. However, if the outfits resorted to extortion and other illegal activities, the army will take up actions against them and there had been instances when cadres with whom there was truce was apprehended and handed over to police for necessary actions, he said.

'' Political solution was the only means of solving the problems and there can be no military solution.'' He said the entire north eastern region was porous and shared boundaries with other countries and admitted that though the Indian and Myanmar armies shared information, there was no agreement to launch joint operations. The Indian army was also not helping the Myanmar military with arms, he added.

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