ULFA pro-talks faction likely to sign peace accord with Centre next month: Anup Chetia

ULFA pro talks general secretary Anup Chetia refused to comment on ULFA-I chief Paresh Baruah as the latter is still stuck to the sovereignty issue.

The decks seem to be all cleared for a final peace agreement between the government and the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) pro talks faction which has been long awaited.

ULFA pro-talk faction’s general secretary, Anup Chetia gave a clear hint of this stating that in all likelihood the much talked of peace accord will be signed by next month.

A crucial meeting of the ULFA pro talks general body was held in Kaziranga recently ahead of this big development wherein the draft of the accord was discussed in details and explained to the members of the group. Ultimately after detailed talks the general body of the ULFA pro talks has given its go ahead to the draft as well as the Central Committee of the group to proceed and sign the Agreement.

Anup Chetia shared details of the meeting and said, “We think this will be the last meeting of the ULFA. We hope that very soon a tripartite agreement will happen with the Government of India, Assam Government. Prior to the signing of the Accord, we held a General Body meeting of the ULFA. We took a very important decision in the meeting.

In January, the draft was presented by interlocutor AK Mishra. The Working Committee and Central Committee discussed and after that we made some amendments and inclusions, and gave it to the Centre. On Sept 20 detailed and formal discussion was held on it between interlocutor AK Mishra, representatives of Centre and Assam government. In that meeting we suggested for making some more inclusions. The Assam government also cooperated with us in putting forward our inclusions. We had submitted the draft to interlocutor AK Mishra on September 20. But we are yet to receive the final draft. Moreover, we are also yet to get a copy of the accord which we will sign. The PMO, HMO is taking some time to make the political decision. We hope that if not within this month, then by next month a tripartite agreement between the Centre, state government and us (ULFA pro-talks) will happen.”

“The draft which was discussed in our general body meeting, we elaborately explained the sections of the draft to our members. The general body meeting has given its full approval to the draft of the accord. The general body meeting has fully allowed the central committee to approve and sign the accord which will be presented to us,” Chetia said.

Anup Chetia is hopeful that efforts of all the stakeholders will culminate in the shape of an acceptable peace agreement. Regarding this he said, “We hope that a fruitful accord will be signed soon with the Centre in cooperation with the state government. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and DGP GP Singh, who is the representative of the Assam government, we will be signing an acceptable agreement.”

When asked about the status of ULFA-I (Independent) Commander-in-Chief Paresh Baruah, Anup Chetia said, “We do not want to comment anything about Paresh Barua. He has not changed his stand on the issue of sovereignty, he is sticking to the demand. In that regard his organization is totally different in terms of us, so I do not think it will be logical to say anything on this issue.”

Chetia was asked if the issues between Paresh Baruah and the Government would be resolved, to which he said, “Whether the issue will be resolved or not, everything depends on the Centre. The Government of India has realised that there are some kind of necessity, reality in signing an agreement with us, and so it has proceeded. Since the Government of India is going to sign an agreement with us, we are not putting our thoughts on what stand the ULFA-I will take.”

On August 22 Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said that the ongoing dialogue with the pro-talks faction of the ULFA was progressing in the right direction. Chief Minister Sarma had said that one of the demands of the group for protection of the identity of the indigenous people has been fulfilled following the delimitation of the assembly and parliamentary constituencies in the state.

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