[Assam] What is new in this parroting is this that HKD sees the writing is on the wall. The Assamese majority can no longer be hoodwinked with lies & they are coming out in their thousands supporting the ULFA and that which is HKD is basically referring to.

[Bartta Bistar]

[image: The Assam Tribune online]
*Guwahati, Tuesday, November 14, 2006*

* *

http://www.assamtribune.com/
 ------------------------------

*'Prolonged Army action may be harmful'
*By R Dutta Choudhury
 GUWAHATI, Nov 13 – Armed action cannot bring permanent solution to the
problem of insurgency and both the Government and the United Liberation
Front of Asom (ULFA) must change their mindset and come forward for talks
with open mind for a negotiated settlement to the problem, said former
Director General of Assam Police, HK Deka. Talking to *The Assam
Tribune*here today, Deka expressed the view that both the Government
and the ULFA
must avoid trying to go for pressure tactics to put pressure on the other
side to come forward for talks. He pointed out that the Government was
trying to put pressure on the ULFA to come for talks through operations,
while, on the other hand, the ULFA was also trying to indulge in acts of
violence to put pressure on the Government to agree for talks on their
terms. If the Government and the ULFA are serious about talks, they should
come for talks without any pre-condition. He also pointed out that there was
too much media publicity on the peace process, which was harmful. He
suggested that the Government and the ULFA should start the process of talks
quietly through any mediator acceptable to both sides without going for
media statements to know each other's mind.

Deka pointed out that the people of the State want restoration of peace and
talks between the Government and the ULFA and both sides must respect the
sentiments of the people. Armed action against the ULFA has a purpose, that
is to contain violence as the Government cannot abdicate its responsibility
of maintaining law and order in the State, but that will not bring permanent
solution to the problem, he said. He also expressed the view that continuous
operations by the Army for a long period might be counter-productive and
lead to complications. He suggested that instead of depending too much on
the Army, the Government should try to strengthen the police force to handle
the situation.

Commenting on the recent incidents of violence that rocked the state, Deka
said that it was not unusual as such incidents have been continuing in the
State for quiet some time. He also expressed the view that the situation has
not deteriorated alarmingly.

The former DGP admitted that over the years, the ULFA changed its tactics.
At one point of time, the outfit only went for targeted attacks, but of
late, the militants have resorted to explosions in public places killing
innocent people, which is very dangerous. Of late, the ULFA has veered from
insurgency to terrorism, he pointed out. He said, "I do not know the reasons
for the change of tactics of the ULFA. May be they are facing shortage of
trained persons to indulge in guerrilla warfare. Whatever be the reason for
the change of tactics, the ULFA must realize that such tactics will alienate
them from the people. There was a time when the Assamese society had a kind
of maternal sympathy towards the ULFA, but the situation started to change
after the Dhemaji blast, which killed children and women and the sympathy
towards the ULFA has been eroded."

Referring to reports that the ULFA was in the grip of the Pakistani Inter
Services Intelligence (ISI), Deka said that the intelligence reports
indicated links between the ULFA and the ISI for a long time. "But I have my
doubts on whether the ULFA is under the grip of the ISI as the outfit has
its own agenda," he added.

When asked about his suggestions to the police force, the former DGP said
that only routine operations would not help the police. He said that efforts
should be made to gain the support of the common people and steps should be
taken to ensure that the common masses are not harassed during the
operations. He said that building up rapport with the community would be of
major help for the police and it would also improve the intelligence inputs
and act as force multiplier.
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