Year of missed opportunities

Guwahati, Dec 23 (UNI) The year 2006 would be remembered as one of missed opportunity as Asom came closest to ensuring enduring peace with serious overtures made to bring the militant ULFA to the negotiating table.

The year also saw a new government, virtual decimation of the opposition, return of ultra nationalist forces and mixed success in culture and sports.

The ULFA flattered to deceive. A unilateral cease fire from the Government was initially reciprocated by the militant organisation raising the hope of immediate peace. However, both sides remained adamant on their stated position, leading to suspension of moves for talks and violence returned to haunt the people.

The Government stated that ULFA was not sincere and was in the grip of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), while the latter wanted five of their arrested leaders to be released as a pre-condition for joining the talks.

Subsequently, the ULFA carried out a series of bombings. As many as 180 people were killed in more than 250 blasts in a span of six months.

A frustrated peace negotiator, author Dr Indira Goswami, working with the Peoples Consultative Group (PCG), formed by the ULFA to act as a go between Centre and the militant organisation, also threw in the towel. ''I think there are too many things happening simultaneously which are not transparent,'' she said expressing her disappointment.

Allegations of some key members of the PCG being involved in money laundering led to further loss of credibility. The ULFA mostly targeted defence installations and the bombing of crowded places like Fancy bazaar, attributed to them, resulted in heavy civilian casualty. Security forces were successful in restricting the militants to Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts.

Politically, the Congress, under Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, made history by gaining an unprecedented second successive term in the office. In alliance with the Bodo organisations, they sidelined the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The alliance would have got two third majority had they not been stopped by the new Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF), floated by a few minority leaders.

The AUDF is becoming the pivot of the new minority politics as the repeal of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act, 1983, created a vacuum. When the Muslims formed their own party, It deprived the Congress of its minority vote bank to a certain extent.

The issue of infiltration came to the fore when the Supreme Court quashed the amendment the Centre brought in the Foreigner's (Tribunal) Act relating to deportation of foreigners (Bangladeshi immigrants) staying illegally in the state. On the sports field, preparations are in full swing for hosting the National Games 2007, scheduled for February. However, the shadow of militancy is hanging over it as the ULFA has called for boycott.

Champion archer Jayanta Talukdar got a bronze in the Doha Asian Games.

The year saw Assamese singers hogging the limelight in Bollywood.

Micro credit initiatives and Self Help Groups boosted agrarian activities. However, a mega Gas Cracker project continued to be delayed.

A real estate boom in Guwahati changed the city's face. A victim of its own success, its infrastructure is crumbling even as more and more shopping malls and multiplexes are being opened.

UNI