ULFA ceasefire

ULFA ceasefire

The unilateral declaration of ceasefire by ULFA leader Mrinal Hazarika involving A and C company of dreaded 28th Battalion responsible for many terrorist crimes in the Upper Assam region may give a respite to the security forces engaged in counter terrorism operation and satisfaction in the Unified Command structure headed by the Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi for engineering an open revolt against Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and the ULFA Commander in Chief. Paresh Baruah.ln his press conference from his secret hide out, Mrinal Hazarika lashed out at the ULFA leadership for ignoring the threat of ethnic population being reduced to minority in course of tume due to influx of illegal migrants and their reluctance to come forward for direct talks with the central government. He once again appealed to the top leadership to come forward for talks without conditions in the interest of Assam. Both Chairman Rajkhowa and C in C Paresh Baruah rejected his appeal and termed the ceasefire declaration void. This is for the first time that an armed battalion of ULFA had openly revolted. Earlier large number of ULFA cadres have surrendered with weapons and joined the main stream. These included many top leaders of ULFA but the top leadership remained indifferent and continued their one point programme of killing innocent lives in the name of armed struggle for a “sovereign socialist Assam”. It is unlikely that under protective custody of ISI and Director General of Field Intelligence, Bangladesh ULFA Chairman Rajkhowa and C-in-C Paresh Baruah would make any move for direct talks with the central government. The best course for those disillusioned by the prolonged armed struggle would have been to surrender with their arms to the authorities and remain in designated camps. Mrinal Hazarika also reiterated that they have not signed any formal cease fire agreement. By his action he has created an alternative centre of power and clashes and internecine war between rival centers of power would be inevitable. In such a situation police and security forces would have to act and it would not be possible to spare the A and C company personnel. The situation may develop like the rivalry between the NCSN(IM) and NSCN(K) in Nagaland where between 2003 and 2007, in spite of the cease fire declaration by both the groups, more then 200 militants lost their lives. source: assam tribune editorial 29.06.08