ULFA(I) to take part in peace talks only if ‘sovereignty’ issue is included, says Paresh Baruah

January 28: The United Liberation Front of Assam Independent (ULFA-I) is speculated to sit for peace talks with the union government very soon. State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday addressed a Press Conference where he appealed to (ULFA-I) commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah & United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) to enter into a meaningful peace dialogue with both the Government of Assam and Government of India, ending decade-old militant movement in the state.

Speculations were ripe since then that ULFA (I) commander-in-chief Paresh Barua will return to Assam and sign a peace agreement with New Delhi to bring an end to the 41-year old armed movement. Quoting multiple sources, Outlook reported that the peace accord with ULFA would be Narendra Modi-led government’s “Rongali Bihu gift” to the people of Assam. Rongali Bihu is celebrated mid-April, and it marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year.

Quoting Home Ministry officials, the Outlook report claimed talks with ULFA is in final stage and most issues, including granting constitutional safeguard to Assam’s indigenous people, have been resolved. Himanta Biswas Sarma said that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah had clearly said on Monday that if the anti-talk ULFA(I) faction is ready for negotiations, then “the Centre is more than willing to hold dialogue with them for the sake of permanent peace in Assam and the Northeast.”

Outlook further reported, “One of Barua’s childhood friends, Rebati Phukan—who “disappeared” in April 2018—is said to be acting as the intermediary between the banned outfit and the Centre. He was apparently drafted by Indian intelligence agencies to break the ice with Barua. Phukan was earlier a member of the now-disbanded People’s Consultative Group, a citizens’ initiative to bring Barua to the negotiating table. The PCG was led by Gnanpith winner Assamese writer late Mamoni Raisom Goswami.”

However, Commander-in-Chief of ULFA(I), Paresh Baruah, currently in exile, reacted sharply to this report published in Outlook. Barua told a Guwahati-based news channel on Tuesday that he will “have no hesitation” for talks if the “core issue of sovereignty” is on the agenda. Barua, who leads the ULFA’s Independent faction, has been waging an armed rebellion for a “sovereign Axom” since 1979.

Baruah said in the phone-in interview to the local television channel, “If the Indian government conveys even in a one-line communication that they are ready for talks on all issues, including the core issue of sovereignty of Assam, we have no hesitation to sit for talks. We will send a delegation.” This statement of Paresh Baruah now seems to be a deterrent over the ULFA-I group’s possibility of the ongoing peace process.