ULFA-GoI Talks : History repeating itself

: Chennai, March 16, 2011

History often repeats itself. Unfortunately in Assam it’s the sad and treacherous chapters of history that often unfolds and repeats again and again. The same is to be seen vividly in the case with the proposed peace talks between the outlawed ULFA and the Government of India, which every common man in the state is awaiting for, with a hope of peace to be restored and constructive solution to age old problems in the land. As highlighted and warned in several reports of Times of Assam (such as Conspiracy behind Peace Talks and hunting of the Deputy C-in-C, ULFA and Secrets of Politics, ULFA-GoI talk and Hate Campaign by Assamese Media etc) about a secret lobby which is trying to destroy the peace process and keep the insurgency problem alive, the recent happenings in the state confirms what we had been fearing about.

The blast in Congress Headquarters of the state in Guwahati which injured four congress Leaders immediately followed next day by gun fight in Kakopothar area between the state forces and ULFA members killing two cadres of the outfit and one state police personnel, Pranjal Saikia is enough to disturb the peace process between the ULFA and the Government. And the people responsible in this entire affair are the C-in-C of the outfit Paresh Baruah as well as Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, apart from other agents who are helping in this dirty game.

In 1991, a secret understanding between Paresh Baruah and the then chief minister of Assam Hiteshwar Saikia of Congress had destroyed the first round of peace talks between ULFA and the Government of India held on 11th January 1991 in Delhi. This conspiracy back then had not only destroyed Assam’s peace but led the path for new avenues of bloodshed by creating the first successful rift in the organization, with many top leaders of those era leaving ULFA including the then Foreign Secretary Kalpajyoti Neog, Publicity Secretary Sunil Nath alias Siddhartha Phukan, Munin Nabish, Jugal Kishor Mahanta alias Pahar (who had rejoined ULFA by his escape with jail break even after he was captured by Army in armed operation), Manoj Hazarika etc after the mysterious killing of the then Deputy C-in-C of the outfit Captain Heerakjyoti Mahanta on Tuesday, December 31, 1991.

Two decades later, the situation seems just the same. With elections around the corner, it is the perfect time for another secret understanding,- this time with Paresh Baruah and Tarun Gogoi to create another bloodshed situation, where both ULFA and security forces would be engaged in fights and thereby give the opportunity to both parties to call off the talks, blaming each other. And the sufferings for the common men, continuing of the youth to join armed rebellions, opportunity for the Media to earn more with militancy stories and secrets of corruption revealed through militancy would continue as ever. Just another dirty game of politics that deceives the common man is on, – again and as usual.