In search of peace
Yet another function — this time at Dispur, the State capital — was held on Wednesday when 159 rebels belonging to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) surrendered in the presence of the Governor and the Chief Minister besides Army officials and members of the public. This was the second time in Guwahati that a large number of rebels surrendered with their weapons the first being the function held in the Rabindra Bhawan a few months ago where a senior ULFA leader, Lohit Deuri, disclosed before Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta that the top leaders of the banned outfit were receiving assistance from the Pakistani agency — Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and that they were leading luxurious lives in Bangladesh. At the Dispur function several senior leaders of the ULFA including Ramen Nath, self-styled commander of the crack Enigma unit and so-called sergeants and corporals were among the surrenderees derisively called SULFAs. Nath disclosed that the Assam Tiger Force (ATF) which is said to be responsible for the recent incidents at Nalbari, Dibrugarh and other places in which a large number of non-Assamese people including day-labourers were killed was a creation of the ULFA and the killings were aimed at destabilising the State Government.

Addressing the large gathering at the Dispur function Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S. K. Sinha called the surrender ceremony as the last nail in the outfit’s coffin. He was perfectly justified in saying so for the simple fact that the ULFA has lost popular support as demonstrated by various rallies throughout the State. The rebel leadership should realise that without the support of the people no movement can succeed. The Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta too was justified in stating that the young people were misguided by the slogan of Swadhin Asom which was like asking for the moon. It is hoped that those who are in the clutch of the ULFA and the NDFB will soon follow the surrendered militants numbering till date 2667 soon and join the mainstream to serve the people in all constitutional ways. However, the Government will be well-advised to implement the rehabilitation plan for the surrenderees without delay for which the Central Government should extend all kinds of assistance including recruitment to the Army and para-military organisation though the Assamese youths have been traditionally reluctant to join these services but times have changed and the Assamese youths are prepared today to accept such jobs provided the authorities concerned launch motivation camps in this regard.

Significantly, at the instance of the Chief Minister an All Party Conference was held on December 4 to discuss the situation created by the rebel outfits killing about 60 people. It is indeed heartening that all the political parties including the main opposition, the Congress, participated in the discussion and decided to work unitedly for return of peace to Assam in the interest of security and development of the backward State. It was unfortunate that instead of fighting the ultras and working for and restoration of peace Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and Assam Pradesh Congress president Tarun Gogoi were accusing each other of having nexus with the rebel organisations. Now that the Asom Gana Parishad and the APCC are among the signatories to work for peace and fight the disruptors of law and order in the State the two leaders would do well to forget and forgive the past bickering and work according to their commitment for peace in the State to ensure that the ensuing Assembly election is held in a complete peaceful atmosphere. Meanwhile, the peace campaign should be intensified mobilising the support of all organisations who have already shown active role in fighting the rebel bodies. Side by side the Unified Command comprising the police, the Army and the Central Reserve Police is reported to have a new strategy to deal with the terrorist groups which have in the last few months spread their tentacles in all the seven States of the region, even traditionally quiet Arunachal Pradesh has been affected by the terrorism while North Bengal too is presently facing the problem of terrorism. But in order to deal with the unlawful activities of the terrorist outfits in the NE active cooperation of the neighbouring countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar — is essential as Chief Minister Mahanta has recently pointed out. In this matter New Delhi should urgently take up the issue at diplomatic level, otherwise the peace move jointly initiated by all parties and the surrenders by a few hundred ultras will not be enough.

Assam situation

Last weekend at New Delhi a high level meeting discussed the Assam situation arising out of spurt in terrorist activities of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in which 97 Hindi-speaking people mostly Biharis and Marwaris have been killed since October 21 this year. The fact that the meeting called by Home Minister L. K. Advani, was attended by Defence Minister George Fernandes, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Padmanabhan, Assam Governor Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha and State Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, besides the Union Home Secretary and several officials of the Central and Assam Government suggests that the Assam situation has really turned serious calling for urgent attention of the Centre to the extent of Central Rule, but as we had stated in this column Central Rule is not the answer to the situation in the State. What is urgently required is to rush more security forces and constant vigil of the law and order authorities. In the light of the high-level discussion the Home Ministry has decided to send more security forces and tighten vigilance along the borders of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. To begin with, order under Section 144 has been promulgated since the ultras have been operating from the thick jungles on the Bhutan and Arunachal borders. However, these measures will not be enough unless the Mahanta Government plays its role strictly and efficiently and motivates the Unified Command security structure under GoC IV Corps to combat the killer squads of the ultras.

The fact that in the recent incidents non-Assamese people have become the target of attack of the ultras is indeed a serious matter that has invited strong criticism of the Assamese people from the Bihar government which has asked the Centre to ensure safety and security of the Biharis staying in Assam for several generations. The Rajasthanis too in their memorandum to the Vajpayee government have pleaded with the latter for safety and security of the Hindi-speaking residents in Assam. It should be borne in mind that by attacking the non-Assamese speaking people the Assamese society is not going to earn any benefit whatsoever; on the other hand, the fair name of the Assamese as a peace-loving people will be seriously impaired. It is true that the misdeeds of the militant groups have no support of the Assamese people; it is only the misguided youths influenced by the slogans of Swadhin Asam who have indulged in crimes like killing of people, extortion and kidnapping of those who refuse to abide by their diktats.

In the context of the killings of innocent persons during the last two and a half months, the murders of the kins of the ULFA leaders and attacks on their property have added a new dimension to the growing deterioration in the law and order situation in the State. It is for the State government to identify the culprits behind these senseless killings and mete out exemplary punishment, besides, adequate security should be provided to the affected families of the ultras. Otherwise there is bound to be fierce and violent conflicts between the insurgents and the surrenderers. Dispur will be well advised to mark the sensitive areas where such clashes are apprehended. In any case, murders and attacks on the families of the ULFA and the NDFB militants have become a new problem in disturbed Assam. May be, in their desperation the banned organisations and their leadership will not hesitate to strike again as the Governor has pointed out and it is for this reason the Centre should lend all possible assistance to the Assam Government while the people on their part are required to lend active help to the Government including the security forces in performance of their lawful and ordained duties.

The Assam Tribune