Guwahati, Dec 29: In a monumental move towards lasting peace, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is set to sign a historic tripartite peace accord with the Central Government and Assam Government on Friday (December 29, 2023) at New Delhi. This significant event marks not only the culmination of extensive negotiations but also a milestone in the efforts to end decades old militancy in Assam.

Over the past two years, the Assam Police’s rehabilitation efforts have successfully reintegrated 8,756 ex-cadres, contributing to the current environment where there is zero loss of lives due to extremist violence in Assam.

Top leaders of ULFA’s pro talks faction, including its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and general secretary Anup Chetia, will be present during the tripartite peace accord signing along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and host of other officials in Delhi. The agreement addresses a spectrum of longstanding political, economic, and social issues concerning Assam, offering cultural safeguards and land rights to the indigenous people.

However, the hardline faction led by Paresh Baruah, rebranded as ULFA-I, will not be part of the accord, as he has consistently rejected the government’s olive branch.

Speaking on the development, Assam BJP Spokesperson, Ratna Singh, said, “This is a significant milestone as tomorrow witnesses the signing of documents for the peace agreement between ULFA and the state government in the presence of the Central government. I believe this is a landmark achievement, addressing one of the key contentions of the youth of Assam. The BJP government is committed to peace and all-round development in India.”

Meanwhile, Writer Rajiv Bhattacharya said the development was a positive step with many exceptions. “Any organization can go to Delhi and extract something from the government; it’s a very positive development. In the backdrop of New Delhi’s failure to implement effective policies to address burning issues, this accord signifies a positive step. As a citizen of this country and a resident of Assam, the peace deal with the pro-talks faction of ULFA brings significant expectations,” he said.

On the other hand, Guwahati University student Dipankar Ojha was critical of ULFA-I’s stance as it continues to distance itself from peace talks even though the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led pro-talks faction is on the verse of joining mainstream. “The agreement currently in progress is between the government and the surrendered cadre. Paresh Baruah and his team still hold their original stance. Their reaction to this peaceful understanding will be worth watching in the future, considering their years of holding out in the path of resistance,” he opined.

He further mentioned that the people of Assam have always had to take to the streets, protests to demand various policies and reform measures for their welfare. He, nonetheless, supported the impending peace accord and hoped it would bring lasting peace to Assam.

The pro-talks faction has sought constitutional and political reforms for the protection of the identity and resources of Assam’s indigenous people including their right to land. The Union government in April sent it a draft agreement. An earlier round of talks between the two sides was held in Delhi in August.

The separatist ULFA was formed in April 1979 in the aftermath of an agitation against undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan). It split into two groups in February 2011 with the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led faction giving up violence and agreeing to unconditional talks with the government. Paresh Baruah, who leads the other rebranded ULFA-Independent faction, is against the talks.

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