Pro-Talks ULFA Signs Peace Deal with Centre, Assam Govt; Amit Shah Calls it 'Historic'

The Centre and the Assam government signed a peace agreement with the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) insurgency group on Friday, a big leap towards peace in the north-eastern state that has suffered decades-long violence.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and a 16-member team of the ULFA faction headed by Arabinda Rajkhowa were present during the signing of the Memorandum of Settlement in Delhi. It came after negotiations that span over a decade.

“This is the start of a period of peace for the entire north-east, especially Assam. I want to assure ULFA representatives that…a programme will be made to fulfil everything. Under the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs), a committee will be formed — and it will work with the Assam government to fulfil this agreement,” Shah said.

“A historic day for Assam,” said Amit Shah adding that it is a golden period for the state.

The agreement entails a financial package for Assam. There have also been reports that it would put in place cultural safeguards and aim to address land rights for indigenous communities. The ULFA would be disbanded in return, officials said.

Another ULFA faction, the Paresh Barua-led ULFA (Independent), has not joined peace negotiations, saying it wants discussions on Assam’s “sovereignty” — the idea that led to the ULFA’s birth on April 7, 1979. Still, the accord is seen as historic because despite several attempts for a negotiated settlement with Assam’s oldest insurgency outfit since 1991, there had been no breakthrough or a document of commitment.

The tripartite agreement will bring lasting peace to Assam, Chief Minister Sarma said. “This is a historic day…the process for peace has been going on in Assam under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah. We have (also) signed accords with Bodo, Karbi and Adivasi insurgents,” Sarma said.

The Centre has made peace pacts with rebel Bodo, Dimasa, Karbi and Adivasi outfits in Assam over the past three years, according to ANI news agency. It said over 7,000 rebels from different groups have joined the mainstream since May 2021, when Sarma became the chief minister. The state has been running rehabilitation programmes for them.

Since its inception, the ULFA has been involved in subversive activities and targeted immigrants from Bangladesh, violently campaigning for cultural and land rights for indigenous people. The insurgency in Assam is believed to have killed about 10,000 people, including civilians. The central government declared the ULFA a banned outfit in 1990.

The Rajkhowa-led ULFA faction gave up violence and began unconditional talks with the central government in 2011, despite strong opposition from the hardline faction led by Baruah, who is believed to be residing at a place along the China-Myanmar border. It was the same year when the ULFA split into two.

“This agreement will fulfil many of the aspirations of the people of Assam…PM Modi’s outreach towards Assam and other parts of the north-east has made it possible,” Sarma said.