Centre, Assam government, ULFA insurgents ink historic tripartite peace accord
The Centre and Assam Government have signed a historic peace deal with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). It was inked with the pro-talks faction of the ULFA—led by Arabinda Rajkhowa—in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The accord marks the end of one of Northeast India's largest insurgent groups formed in 1979.
Why does this story matter?
The tripartite Memorandum of Settlement Pact aims to end the decades-long insurgency in Assam, which slipped into insurgency by the 1980s. Meanwhile, the hardline ULFA (Independent) faction—led by Paresh Baruah—continues to demand a sovereign Assam even as a 29-member delegation signed the pact in New Delhi. Shah has said the Centre will ensure that demands of the ULFA are met in a time-bound manner.
Watch: Centre inks pact with Assam's insurgent group
Agreement also provides land rights to indigenous people
Besides eliminating insurgency, the pact caters to issues of illegal immigration and a financial scheme for Assam's development. It also provides cultural safeguards and land rights for indigenous communities. After the accord was signed, Shah lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing peace to the northeast. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) removal proves that insurgency in the region is extinct, he said.
Watch: Shah says insurgency is extinct from northeast
ULFA was formed in 1979, split in 2011
The ULFA was formed in April 1979 in the aftermath of protests against the entry of undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh. Seeking to establish an independent sovereign state of Assam, the ULFA began its armed operations in the late 1980s. In 2011, it was split between the Rajkhowa-led faction that agreed to unconditional peace talks with the government, while the ULFA (Independent) remained against it.
Centre, pro-talks ULFA faction in talks since 2011
The ULFA's pro-talks faction ended the impasse in 2011 when it began peace talks with the Centre. Subsequently, the Indian government sent it a draft agreement in April this year and held a preliminary round of talks in August in New Delhi. Following the latest agreement, the Rajkhowa-led ULFA faction agreed to quit violence, disband the organization, and join the democratic process in India.
Criminal acts in Assam have reduced in recent times
Lauding the historic pact, Shah recounted the civilian deaths due to insurgency in the country. "Assam has suffered for long due to the violence of the ULFA, and 10,000 people lost their lives in this violence since 1979," he said. On Friday, the home minister also noted that the violence in the state had reduced by 87%, deaths by 90%, and kidnappings by 84%.
