Sovereignty push on agenda by Assam govt

 

Dispur upholds Naga model for dialogue

Guwahati, December 6 (The Telegraph): In a discreet move aimed at getting the much-anticipated talks with Ulfa off the ground, the Assam government has requested the Centre to devise a mechanism to incorporate the word “sovereignty” on the agenda for the proposed talks with the outfit. Sources in Dispur said the government was of the view that there was “no harm” in having “sovereignty” in some form on the agenda as the Naga talks, too, had started in a similar manner 13 years ago.
“In the meantime, we hope to convince Ulfa leaders how unreasonable their demand for a sovereign Asom is,” a source in Dispur revealed. “The Centre is working on a greater autonomy package for the NSCN (I-M) though the outfit has not dropped its sovereignty demand, at least publicly. There are technical problems in including sovereignty but discussing it does not mean granting it. In the meantime, we hope to convince Ulfa leaders that sovereignty was not possible and then offer them the next best answer,” one of the sources said.
He, however, added that including “sovereignty” would go against the Constitution as an elected government is sworn to protect the integrity and sovereignty of the country. The sources pointed out that when the Naga talks got off, the operative word was “unconditional talks” which meant that both sides went ahead with “all the issues raised by the outfit and even the objections by the government”. “The Naga leaders had insisted that ‘sovereignty was inalienable’ and Delhi had not made a fuss about those words,” a source added.
The source pointed out that even after the Naga talks had started and the outfit's leadership — Isak Chisi Swu and Th. Muivah — had arrived in Nagaland from abroad, they had publicly brandished their version of Nagalim by a writing on the base of their miniature flags “Sovereignty is inalienable”. The source said that after the Naga outfit raised the pitch for integration of all Naga-inhabited areas, the issue of sovereignty had “got diluted in a natural manner”.
Given the secretive nature in which the Ulfa leaders were brought to the country, the delay in announcing whether they have been arrested/surrendered, producing them in court and chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s public assertions that the state government would do “everything possible” for permanent peace only prove that “hectic backroom” parleys were on to ensure that the “homecoming” of Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa was not frittered away, they said.
Addressing a panchayat convention in Goalpara, Gogoi welcomed the arrival of the Ulfa leaders to the state and hoped that the development would be taken to its logical conclusion. “The Ulfa leaders have understood the futility of violence. It is a positive development and augurs well for the state,” he said at the convention.

 

For Ulfa chief, a massive outpouring of support

GUWAHATI, December 6 (TNN): As Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa lowered his head and stepped out of a sky-blue bus to the court of Kamrup chief judicial magistrate in Guwahati, he was greeted with unexpected slogans like “Ulfa zindabad”, “Arabinda Rajkhowa zindabad”, “surrender nokoribo” (don’t surrender) and not to ‘stoop’ to the Centre’s conditions for peace talks.
Rajkhowa’s brother, Ajoy Rajkonwar, saw the rebel leader after close to 25 years. Betraying no emotions, Ulfa chairman was stoic in his short, crisp conversation with his sibling. ‘‘He told me two things — tell the people of Assam there will be no talks without discussing the sovereignty issue and tell the family members that all is well,’’ said Ajoy.
Rajkhowa, clad in white shirt with a muffler round his neck, was accompanied by Ulfa ‘military spokesman’ Raju Baruah and the chairman’s personal bodyguard, Raja Bora. As a Special Operations Unit (SPU) team of Assam Police brought the three rebel leaders to court, youth raised slogans supporting Ulfa leaders and climbed the railings of the court compound in their desperate bid to be heard.
SSP (city) Pradip Saloi told TOI, “We saw them shouting pro-Ulfa slogans. We have picked up one person and are looking into the matter seriously.” Lawyers, stray passersby, officegoers returning home, as well as the three militant leaders’ family members were equally awestruck with hundreds converging at the venue for a glimpse of the trio.

 

‘No lasting solution if talks held sans Paresh Barua’

Guwahati, December 6 (Agencies): Arrest of ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa may have triggered hopes for talks to settle Assam's vexed insurgency problem but both experts and members of the group maintain that without 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua there can be no lasting solution. "Paresh Barua is someone who cannot be ignored altogether. If the government is planning to go ahead with talks by involving the 'chairman', then it is a big mistake," said noted litterateur and former facilitator for peace talks Indira Goswami.
"The government may have its reasons, but the person controlling the cadres and cash cannot be ignored. All said and done, peace talks without Barua will be futile and counter-productive," the former Delhi University professor said. Former state police chief Harekrishna Deka said Rajkhowa's detention may have paved the way for a dialogue between the group and the Centre but if Barua is out of the process, then there will be no end to violence in the state. "Barua will go all out to create disturbances in the state as he still has his group of followers and he will be desperate to prove the group's strength," he said. ULFA's arrested 'vice chairman' Pradip Gogoi also asserted that both Rajkhowa and Barua must be present for talks.