Guwahati: Anup Chetia, general secretary of the pro-talk ULFA faction, told ThePrint in an interview that the Indian government should send an envoy to the Paresh Barua faction of the United Liberated Front of Assam (Independent) to facilitate peace talks.
Last week, during his Independence Day speech, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said Told That “sovereignty is non-negotiable”, and that those who dream of sovereignty should return to the discussion table. The anti-talk faction led by ULFA-I, Baruah, has been pressing for sovereignty.
Sarma’s speech after ULFA Call For shutdown on Independence Day. According to Chetia, Barua’s silence after the speech can be read as a positive sign.
“The voice of the CM is the stand of the Government of India, after this Paresh did not issue any statement. This is a positive thing. The Indian government should come forward and send an envoy to meet Paresh Barua. Even if he demands sovereignty they can still join him,” he said.
Meanwhile, the pro-talk faction is waiting for the government to respond to its demands, which include reservation in Parliament and land rights for the indigenous people of Assam.
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peace talks status
made in 1979The ULFA originated from an anti-immigrant movement in Assam, inspired by the influx of migrants from Bangladesh after the 1971 war, which led to the liberation of that country from Pakistan.
The group was mainly founded by student leaders Golap Barua alias Anup Chetia, Samiran Gogoi alias Pradeep Gogoi, Bhadreshwar Gohain and Bhimakant Buragohain. Paresh Baruah headed his military wing, while Aurobindo Rajkhowa headed the political unit.
ULFA in 2011 crushed into two factions – one led by Rajkhowa and the other led by Paresh Barua – as the latter decided against talks and talks with the central government. Paresh Baruah’s group, ULFA-ATF (Anti-Talk faction), was rebranded as ULFA-I in 2013.
According to Chetia – who is part of the pro-talk faction led by Rajkhowa – Barua is no longer “anti-talk”.
He claimed, “Paresh Barua did not rule out the peace process…we came to know this through the media.”
However, there is a difference of opinion between the two factions regarding their demands. While the Paresh Baruah-led faction remains firm in its push for sovereignty for Assam, the Rajkhowa-led faction has fought for indigenous rights while engaging with the government.
peace talks with ulfa started In 2011, during which she put out a “memorandum” with demands. Several rounds of talks have taken place since 2011. These were temporarily halted due to the pandemic and resumed in February this year.
“Our demand is to protect the indigenous identity of Assam. We demanded constitutional protection. We have demanded that there should be 88% reservation for MLA, MP seats. [for the indigenous people]Chetia said.
“In the Upper House, we have demanded a modified system so that indigenous groups can send their representatives. If there is a tenure of six years, we can split it into three years or two years,” he said.
The group has also called for a system where indigenous land can be sold only to indigenous people.
The ULFA general secretary also said that the group is now waiting for the government’s response, but said, “We have received a very positive response from the interlocutor (AK Mishra).”
“There are some issues regarding economic development (our demand) in Assam (Assam), which can be resolved in one day’s meeting. The second issue is constitutional protection (for indigenous communities). If the Indian government agrees, we can sign the agreement anytime,” he said.
Chetia further said that the government may be looking to sign an agreement with both the groups.
“We do not know what (is) the policy of the Government of India. They must be thinking that both the groups should come out and an agreement should be signed with both the groups, as was done in the case. Bodo Territorial Area,” He added.
‘ULFA-1 recruitment is normal’
In the last few months, the increase in recruitment by ULFA-I has created concern among the Assam Police. ThePrint has previously informed of That between August 2021 this year and April this year, the group recruited more than 40 young men and women. According to police sources, the total number of recruitments between 2017 and 2019 was 70.
Chetia said the numbers were “normal”. “If there is an organization it will happen… During the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) agitation, a lot of people were recruited by the ULFA-I,” he said.
The pro-talk faction left the armed struggle 10 years ago.
However, he added that the economic condition of Assam is also prompting people to join the group. “The process of livelihood is very difficult here because of this economic condition. If the government fixes this, the younger generation will not go to the jungle (ULFA-I is said to operate from the ‘forests’ of Myanmar).
The Assam Police has arrested several youths for allegedly expressing their support for the banned ULFA-I.
“The Government of India and the Government of Assam do not want the ULFA-I to emerge as a force, so they are taking these steps. Police personnel are doing their duty and young generation should be careful, because right now democracy doesn’t mean you can comment.
(Edited by Polomi Banerjee)