Letter from the Editor-In-Chief

Dear friends,

Peace negotiations are on between the Government of India and ULFA and this is a significant step towards the extermination of militant organisations in the North East. After the NSCN which is widely regarded as the front runner of militant groups in and from the North East, ULFA is arguably the second in a long list of a large number of such groups either operational or which have been in operation in the North East Region of India at some point of time or the other.

The numerous speculations regarding the timing (just before Assam goes to the polls) and hidden agendas of the peace talks notwithstanding, this is a positive step towards a new age of peace and prosperity in Assam and the North East region as a whole. It is common knowledge that these groups help each other out when it comes to training, arms, intelligence and safe havens and the elimination of the two top militant groups will greatly hamper the underground network between the other smaller groups operating in the region.

However, the issue of militancy and militant organisations in the North East region of India, when one looks at the number of these groups, is akin to the hydra of Greek mythology. This mythical monster was a multi headed dragon which had the ability to spawn off one or more heads when an original one was severed. Parallels between this monster and the current situation with ULFA can be drawn at the moment as a split in the group is brewing in the undercurrents of these peace talks. On one hand, we have the pro talks ULFA group which comprises arrested leaders of the group such as Sashadhar Chowdhury, Pradip Gogoi, Raju Baruah and is led by ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa which is all for the settlement of the decades old conflict with the Government of India and on the other hand, we have ULFA’s Commander in Chief Paresh Baruah and his hardline ULFA cadre who are vehemently opposed to the talks.

Rajkhowa had, not too long ago stated that the pro talks group is in constant touch with Baruah who is believed to be in hiding somewhere in along the Chinese border and that the Commander in Chief is not opposed to the peace talks. However, considering that we only have Rajkhowa’s word to go on, what Rajkhowa says needs to be taken with a handful, if not a pinch of salt.

Paresh Baruah’s absence in these peace talks is very significant and herein lies the danger and the twist in the peace talks. Here is where the similarity between the hydra and ULFA makes itself apparent. The pertinent question that no one is asking here is – What is to stop the anti talks group of ULFA from branding the pro talks ULFA leaders as traitors of the cause and negating whatever agreements are arrived at through the peace talks? A video was recently released to the media which showed Paresh Baruah and his faithful cadre celebrating Bihu at some undisclosed location. Now, the faithful, as was seen in the video were armed to the teeth with sophisticated weaponry and looked more than able.

Furthermore, let us not forget that the Government of India has been engaged in peace talks with the NSCN (IM) for a very long time now with nothing to show for it till date. The peace talks with ULFA must not function along the same lines as any dawdling can be taken advantage of by the anti talks sections of ULFA to rebuild and regroup. If the hydra is to be slain, now is the time and concrete steps must be taken and taken fast.