North East News Agency

National convention organised by the People’s Committee for Peace Initiatives in Assam (PCPIA) adopted several resolutions, including one that called for restart of the peace process with the issue of sovereignty being included in the agenda. The resolution stated that “the ULFA’s armed struggle for a sovereign Assam was a response to Indian colonial attitude and the whole issue required a political settlement.” Expressing concern over the peace process coming to a halt, the Mahasabha urged the dialogue process to be restarted by the Union Government. Otherwise the resolution called for a plebiscite on the issue of sovereign Assam.

In another resolution the convention called for the release of five ULFA members lodged in prisons so that a conducive climate for direct talks between the ULFA and the Government was created. A call was also made to the ULFA to respond positively to release of prisoners and cessation of army activities by the Government.

The convention in a resolution also called for producing the ULFA and NDFB cadres who had gone missing during clashes with the Bhutan Army. It expressed concern that the wives of the missing were compelled to carry out fasts to learn about the whereabouts of their husbands. .Interestingly, the convention had to perform a tricky maneuvre vis-à-vis the issue of Nagalim. While it extended support to a political resolution to the issue, at the same it vehemently opposed the idea of a greater Nagalim including parts of Assam.

Further the convention resolved to create public opinion on release of ULFA prisoners, need for direct talks between the ULFA and the Government with the issue of sovereign Assam on the agenda. The need for a mass movement in this regard was also favoured.

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