Assam misses the peace bus, again

Guwahati, Dec 23: The past year proved to one of missed opportunities for resolving the three-decade old ULFA problem, with peace, which seemed to be just round the corner, proving once again to be elusive.

The year 2006 oscillated between bright hopes of a negotiated solution and a bloody battle between the ULFA and security forces, with the state virtually turning into a battleground.

It started on a positive note with the ULFA-nominated 11-member People's Consultative Group (PCG), led by chief facilitator Indira Goswami and ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua's childhood friend Rebati Phukan, meeting the Centre's representatives for a second time to chalk out a political solution to the vexed problem.

The second round of talks was held on February 7, between the PCG and National Security Advisor M K Narayanan. The first meeting, in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was held on October 25, 2005.

The meeting saw the PCG placing the ULFA's demand for release of its top five jailed leaders as a pre-condition for the outfit to sit for direct talks with the Centre. The five leaders are 'vice-chairman' Pradip Gogoi, 'political advisor' and ideologue Bhimakanta Buragohain, 'cultural secretary' Pranati Deka, 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary and Ramu Mech.

Just when the people of the state were expecting more good news after a peaceful Assembly polls in April, with Congress retaining power at the head of a coalition, the peace process hit a roadblock with the PCG threatening to pull out. They alleged that the government was not showing sincere commitment to bring the militant group to the table.

The third round of PCG-Centre talks, with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Mr Narayanan attending it, was held on June 22, with an air of uncertainty shrouding it. The Centre threw in its condition of an assurance by the ULFA in black and white regarding sitting for the talks, including the list of participants.

The ULFA, through the PCG, made it clear that the five leaders would have to be released before it made any commitment in writing. As the impasse continued, with state government speaking out in favour of release of the leaders and New Delhi demanding a written assurance first, an informal unilateral cease fire was declared by the Centre on August 13.

However, it proved to be a premature hope with the Centre calling off the cease fire on September 27 after three extensions, claiming that the ULFA had used the time to regroup and was carrying on with its activities unabated.

The state witnessed unleashing of violence on the common man as well as security forces by the ULFA and retaliatory action by the defence personnel.

Amid the mayhem that followed the revocation of the cease fire, the PCG withdrew from the peace parleys, with Dr Indira Goswami also announcing her plans to return to her literary pursuits as the talks failed to make any headway.

In less than a year since the formation of the PCG, seen as a welcome move towards peaceful negotiations, hopes faded of the civil society group making any impact in the talks.

The ULFA, in a more lethal mode after the failure of the talks, issued a warning to 'Indians'. The sportsmen were also not spared when the outfit threatened to disrupt the National Games, slated for February, 2007.

However, following a public outcry, it softened its stand by demanding renaming of the Games as 'Asom Sports Festival'.

UNI