Context: This article is based on the news “Centre, Assam sign peace pact with ULFA faction” which was published in the Hindu. Recently, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Assam government and the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) signed a memorandum of settlement.

ULFA Peace Accord: History of its 44-year-long Insurgency, Peace Talks

• Surrender by ULFA: ULFA cadres have agreed to surrender arms and ammunition, vacate their camps, join the mainstream society and engage in the peaceful democratic process established by law.
• Monitoring Fulfillment of Demands: A time-bound programme would be made by the MHA to fulfill the demands of the ULFA and a committee would also be formed for its monitoring.
• Fruitful Negotiations: Over the years, several rounds of negotiations were held with the ULFA which had culminated in the peace agreement.

About ULFA

• Genesis: It emerged from the All Assam Students Union anti-immigrant agitation that began in 1979 demanding a sovereign State for the Assamese people.  
  • A group of radical thinkers, led by Bhimakanta Buragohain, Arabinda Rajkhowa, Anup Chetia, Pradip Gogoi, Bhadreshwar Gohain and Paresh Baruah were the main leaders.
• Objectives of ULFA: The founders of ULFA wanted to establish a sovereign Assamese nation through an armed struggle against the Indian state. 
• Approach: During the initial years, ULFA projected itself to be a group to help needy people. Later, it began an armed struggle against the Indian government. They followed a violent approach marked with kidnappings and extortion, executions and bomb blasts. 
  • When the insurgent group was at its peak in 1990, ULFA considered itself to be an extension of the government itself. 
  • Insurgency: An insurgency is a violent attempt to oppose a country’s government carried out by citizens of that country.
• Government Response: In 1990, the Centre launched Operation Bajrang to tackle growing violence leading to the arrest of over 1,200 ULFA insurgents. 
  • Assam was declared a ‘disturbed area’, President’s rule was imposed, and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was invoked.

Reason for Rise of ULFA

• Strong Sense of Identity: The Assamese community possesses a distinctive culture and language, fostering a strong sense of identity. 
• Influx of Migrants: Migrant influx in the 19th century driven by the region’s booming tea, coal, and oil industries led to a growing sense of insecurity among the indigenous population.
• India’s Partition: Sense of insecurity was further exacerbated by the Partition of India in 1947, and the subsequent exodus of refugees into the state from the erstwhile-East Pakistan.
• Bangladesh Liberation War: Further, several Bengali speaking people crossed over to India post 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• External Support: There were allegations of external support, with claims that ULFA received training and assistance from foreign entities sympathetic to their cause. 
  • Training by ISI:  ISI had provided training to the ULFA militants, especially in terrorist tactics, counter intelligence, disinformation and use of weapons.
  • Issue of Illegal Passport: Paresh Baruah and a few others were issued passports by Pakistan for their visit to Singapore, Thailand and other countries. 
  • Use of Religious Institutions: Several madrassas/mosques sponsored by the ISI in the Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar areas were being utilised to procure arms from Thailand and Myanmar by ULFA. 

• Political Factors: The AGP(Asom Gana Parishad) government reported to have remained a passive onlooker in the face of the growing ULFA terrorism. They had political compulsion and saw ULFA as their second line of defence.
  • The signing of the 1985 Assam Accord and the AGP’s electoral victory were intertwined with each other. Many ULFA leaders had connections with AGP ministers from the agitation days which led to increase in ULFA’s influence on the state administration. Despite awareness, the Chief Minister took no action to curb ULFA activities.

Path Towards Peace

• 2005: ULFA formed an 11-member ‘People’s Consultative Group’ (PCG) comprising noted intellectuals. The committee mediated three rounds of talks before the ULFA walked out of the discussions and unleashed a new wave of terror.
• 2008: Some ULFA commanders like Arabinda Rajkhowa again strive for peace talks with the government. However, Paresh Baruah was opposed to talks and was expelled from Rajkhowa outfit, paving the way for the major split in ULFA. 
  • While Baruah floated his own ULFA (Independent), the majority of the outfit joined the peace talks under Rajkhowa.
• 2012: The pro-talks faction submitted a 12-point charter of demands to the central government, which was finally responded to in 2023. 
  • 12-point charter of demands spanning constitutional, political, financial, and cultural concerns. 
  • These demands included safeguarding Assam’s indigenous population, addressing missing ULFA members, providing amnesty and rehabilitation and preserving indigenous culture. 
  • They also sought the ability to foster specific foreign relationships for trade, commerce, and cultural bonds.
• 2023: Peace Accord: A round of discussions between Rajkhowa’s faction and the Centre was followed, culminating in the tripartite peace agreement. 
  • The key points of the peace accord were that 97 out of 126 Assembly seats in Assam would be reserved for indigenous people and the future delimitation exercise would follow this principle. 
  • ₹1.5 lakh crore investment had been pledged in the peace accord and constitutional safeguards would be ensured by protecting land rights and putting restrictions on migration from one constituency to another.

Significance of Agreement with ULFA

• Ensuring Peace Assam: The Home Ministry has taken a significant initiative to engage in negotiations with the ULFA, aiming to achieve resolution and closure. This agreement holds the promise of fulfilling the long-standing aspirations of the people. 
  • Since the inception of the Assam agitation in 1979, around 10,000 lives have been lost, and all those who perished were citizens of the country. 
• Violent Groups Surrendered: As more than 9000 cadres have surrendered on record, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been lifted from 85% of Assam. 
• Triumph of Democratic Process: ULFA has also agreed to engage in the peaceful democratic process established by law and maintain the integrity of the country.
  • For instance, the key points of the peace accord were that 97 out of 126 Assembly seats in Assam would be reserved for indigenous people and the future delimitation exercise would follow this principle. 
• Progress and Development: Government of India has agreed to provide a huge package and several big projects for all round development of Assam. 
  • For instance, ₹1.5 lakh crore investment had been pledged in the peace accord. 
• Political Will and Implementation: This agreement marks a significant milestone in the vision of an insurgency-free Northeast.
  • Further, a time-bound program will be made by the MHA to fulfill the demands of ULFA. 

Challenges Still Remain

• An Incomplete Peace: The other faction known as ULFA-I led by Paresh Baruah, has not joined the peace process. ULFA-I has support of 100 cadres.
  • For instance, ULFA-I triggered a blast near an arm installation in Assam’s Tinsukia district in November 2023, where the AFSPA is still in force.
• Cross- Border Existence: ULFA has survived in some part due to help from outside India. It still has camps in Myanmar, and previously had camps in both Bangladesh and Bhutan. 
  • These camps act as launchpads for cross border operations as well as shelter. Insurgents also use them as training bases for new recruits. 
• Supporting Links: ULFA has links to other insurgent outfits in the Northeast and Myanmar, as well as Islamic terror outfits like Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami, and Al-Qaeda.
  • It also has links to Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) which has reportedly trained ULFA insurgents in the past.

Way Forward

• Fulfill Promise: Government needs to actively work towards fulfilling the promises made during the peace agreement, addressing the concerns and aspirations of the ULFA and the affected communities.
• Complete Peace Process: Ensure a comprehensive and thorough peace process that goes beyond a mere agreement, fostering an environment of trust and reconciliation.
  • Further, addressing the issue of incomplete peace process associated with ULFA(I) is the need of the hour.
• Complete Integration and Assimilation: Facilitate the integration and assimilation of former ULFA members into mainstream society, involving rehabilitation programs, vocational training, and support for their social and economic integration.
• Ensure Continued Monitoring: Establish a robust mechanism for continued monitoring of the peace agreement’s implementation ensuring that all parties adhere to their commitments.
• Neutralising ULFA-1: ULFA-1, led by Prakash Barua, should be neutralized through collaboration with the Myanmar government. Diplomatic channels must be leveraged to counter any support provided to ULFA-1 by China.

Must Read: GoI and Manipur Government Signs Peace Agreement With UNLF

Conclusion:

The recent peace accord between the Centre, Assam, and ULFA is a positive development for Northeast peace. However, challenges persist with the non-participating ULFA-I and cross-border issues. Sustained commitment and diplomatic efforts are essential for ensuring lasting stability in the region.