'Price for peace' -- the Naga case is much stronger than in Assam
(As part of the peace pact with ULFA inked on Dec 29th, 2023, the government of India will 'reserve' 97 of the 126 assembly seats in Assam to indigenous people. The centre also agreed to push an investment worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore and declaring the annual Assam floods as 'national priority'.)
ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, general secretary Anup Chetia and other senior leaders have been in the national Capital for past few days,
New Delhi
Militancy in Assam and 'germinating' the seeds of secessionism among a 'most patriotic' community was essentially due to political mistakes and New Delhi's policy of coercion and selective use of carrot and stick policy.
In the late 1980s when the Mahanta government was in power, Assam was rocked by 'violence' especially in tea gardens and Upper Assam under the leadership of the ULFA. The armed cadres also played neo-Robinhood, robbing and murdering "wrongdoers" and often tried to help the poor or prevent elements from alcoholism.
The organisation was founded in 1979 and the timing coincided with the so-called Assam movement. The early eighties saw New Delhi trying to impose its rule. Gyani Zail Singh as the Home Minister had famously said - "Indira's will shall prevail".
'Militancy' came late for Assamese youths but they established good working relations soon with Nagas and other tribal groups and estranged youths. Soon, they in conjunction with NSCN boys were training 'cadres' in Tripura and Meghalaya -- where insurgency came much later.
The ULFA and Naga militants also established rapport with 'agencies' operating in Bangladesh and Pakistan and South East Asia became breeding grounds for common 'business' and arms deals.
ULFA leaders ran hotels in Bangladesh. There were countries such as Myanmar and Bhutan in the neighbourhood.
In 1990 when the then Chandrashekhar government banned ULFA, the NSCN was also included in the list and President's Rule was imposed in Assam. Operation Rhino I and II still bring them the memories of troublesome days.
In 1999 during the Kargil conflict, ULFA exposed itself by their 'appeal' sympathetic to Pakistani intruders.
In fact, in many places ULFA cadres were also beaten up by the public.
The atmosphere was different in Nagaland or Meghalaya. The martyrdom of Naga youth Lieutenant Neikezhakuo (alias Neibu) Kengurusie of 2 Rajputana Riflesand two army officers from Meghalaya united all and sundry in favour of a strong and united India.
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| Lieutenant Neikezhakuo (alias Neibu) |
"Anti Pakistan slogans were reported (in Naga hills) which affirmed the faith in Indian Nationalism. No compensation is adequate for Martyrdom but to the best of my memory the government had allotted a petrol pump and substantial monetary grant," says Lt Gen R N Kapur (Retd), who served in Nagaland in the 1990s.
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| Should the trio 'deliver' Solution in Nagaland - Rio, Shah, Himanta |
Lieutenant Neikezhakuo (alias Neibu) Kengurusie, was an Angami Naga from Nerhema village. He attained
martyrdom on June 28, 1999 at Black Rock, Kargil at the tender age of 24.
The 2 Rajputana Rifles officer was later posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest gallantry award.
During the Vajpayee regime, joint army crackdown by India and Bhutan left ULFA men and leaders shattered.
Finally, on Dec 29th, 2023 as Home Minister Amit Shah sat next to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma presiding the signing ceremony and later called it a 'golden day'; could the two BJP leaders ponder on whether such a 'golden day' could be expected even in neighbouring Nagaland.
What the Naga militant leaders, NNPG, waiting for such a pact could be thinking?
The 'price for peace' -- if there is something like that -- the Naga case is much stronger than in Assam essentially because the extortion menace has not been there in the Himanta-ruled state.
Well, in terms of number counting vis-a-vis 2024 battle, Assam sends 14 MPs and Nagaland's share is only lawmaker. But if the saffron party has walked away with 'the crown and credit' on December 29th. the same 'nationalist' party and their dutiful regional friend NDPP also deserve to do something more than they have been doing so far.
ends
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| Kitovi of NNPG, CM Rio and NSCN-IM leader Muivah : No meeting point ?? |
Chronology:
April 7, 1979:
United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) formed at Rang Ghar, an Ahom era amphitheatre, in Assam's Sivasagar.
June, 1979:
Members discuss in details outfit's name, goal, symbol, flag and constitution at Moran meet.
1980:
Begins flexing its muscles by targeting Congress politicians, business houses from outside the state, tea gardens and public sector companies, particularly oil and gas sector.
1985-1990: Assam slips into turmoil during the first term of the Asom Gana Parishad government-led by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta with the ULFA unleashing a spate of kidnappings, extortions and killings, including Russian engineer Sergei
November 1990: Unilever's seven tea executives airlifted from Doomdooma with the help of Union home ministry and without the knowledge of the Assam government.
November 28, 1990: Operation Bajrang launched by Army against ULFA. The operations were led by GOC 4 Corps Commander Lt Gen Ajay Singh who later went on to become Assam's Governor.
November 29, 1990: President's Rule imposed with the dismissal of Mahanta-led AGP government.
November 1990: Assam declared a Disturbed Area and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act invoked. ULFA declared a separatist and unlawful organization.
January 31, 1991: Operation Bajrang called off.
January, 1991: Then Prime Minister Chandrasekhar informs Rajya Sabha that central government would take necessary steps if ULFA expressed willingness for political talks.
ULFA responded that no talks was possible as long as army operation and President's Rule continued, and that there would be no compromise on their demand of Assam's 'sovereignty'.
June, 1991: Congress government led by Hiteswar Saikia assumes office.
September,1991: Operation Rhino launched against ULFA.
March 1992: ULFA splits into two factions with a section coming over ground and surrendering and organising themselves as Surrendered ULFA (SULFA) 1996: AGP returns to power and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta becomes chief minister for the second time.
January 1997: Unified Command, comprising army, state police and para-military forces, headed by the chief secretary constituted for coordinated strategy and operations against ULFA.
1997-2000: Series of killings of family members of ULFA militants allegedly by SULFA which was termed as 'Secret Killings'.
2001: Congress government with Tarun Gogoi as the chief minister assumes office.
December 2003: 'Operation All Clear' launched by the Royal Bhutan Army to close down ULFA and other NE militants camps in the neighbouring country.
2004: ULFA agrees to hold talks with the government.
September 2005: ULFA constitutes 11-member People's Consultative Group (PCG). Three rounds of talks, led by eminent Jnanpith award winning author Indira (Mamoni) Raisom Goswami, held with Centre but failed to make any headway.
June, 2008: Leaders of ULFA's 28th Battalion declare unilateral ceasefire.
December, 2009: ULFA top leaders, including chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, arrested in Bangladesh, deported to India and jailed in Guwahati.
December 2010: Jailed ULFA leader forms 'Citizen Forum', comprising intellectuals, writers, journalists and professionals to urge government for talks.
2011: Rajkhowa and other jailed leaders released.
ULFA splits into two factions: ULFA (Pro-talks) led by Rajkhowa, and ULFA(Independent), headed by Paresh Barua.
2012: ULFA submits 12-point charter of demands to the government.
2015: ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia released from a Bangladesh jail after serving a term of 18 years since 1997.
May 2021: BJP's Himanta Biswa Sarma becomes chief minister and extends olive branch to Paresh Barua-led ULFA(I).
April 2023: Centre sends draft of the proposed agreement to the ULFA (pro-talks) faction.
October 2023: Anup Chetia informs that suggestions regarding the draft proposals sent to Centre.
December 29, 2023: Tripartite signing of Memorandum of Settlement between the Centre, state government and ULFA (pro-talks) faction.
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