[Assam] “If the Centre is negotiating with Naga leaders, whose demands also include sovereignty, why should it adopt a different yardstick for the Ulfa?” , a worthy Statementship. Baboo. Make the extra mile and ensure Assam’s Sovereignty restoration.

[Bartta Bistar]

*Editorial*

*9 January 2007*

* *

*All so predictable*

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=3&theme=&usrsess=1&id=142910

All so predictable
Unconditional talks remain best option in Assam
The situation in Assam is chaotically reminiscent of pre-Operation Rhino in
1991. With the peace drive now in idle, the Centre is left with two options
~ either revive talks with Ulfa or go hammer and tongs to break its backbone
~ because the continued uncertainty only serves to multiply problems. Both
the Centre and Dispur have been long lulled into believing that since they
are persevering with the peace process by keeping the door open the Ulfa
would not precipitate any action that would hinder initiative. This
complacency is largely responsible for Upper Assam having turned into a
virtual killing field. The gunning down of seven people in Shivasagar
district on Sunday was preceded by the brutal slaughter of 28 people on
Saturday in Tinsukia and Dhemaji districts and 20 more in the Dibrugarh and
Tinsukia areas on Friday.
These are clear messages that the Centre's approach ~ preconditions for
talks and intensified Army operations ~ will be met with more random
strikes. What is of concern is that most victims were Hindi-speaking people
and daily wage-earners. Between September and December last year blasts
ripped through several places and claimed 40 lives. By hitting at soft
targets and whipping up communal passions, Ulfa is playing with fire. But
this is exactly what it wants ~ provoking retaliation to embarrass the state
government. This attitude warrants drastic action. Thankfully, the Bihar
government has thought it necessary to alert the state of any possible
backlash back home. It, however, passes muster why, despite seemingly
tightened security in Ulfa's strongholds of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia
districts, there is occasional violence. The militant outfit's call for a
boycott of the 33rd National Games, scheduled for next month, was not empty
rhetoric and speculation has been rife that it would play its own little
games rather than forcefully forestalling the prestigious mega event. It is
possible that the Ulfa was provoked into its grisly activities by Union home
secretary VK Duggal's assertion at Guwahati last Thursday that the Games
would be held "successfully and peacefully" and that security, in fact,
would be "absolutely foolproof". It is also possible that the Ulfa was
reacting to an opinion poll conducted by an NGO that about 95 per cent of
the people rejected the outfit's demand for sovereignty. The truth hurts,
but these were the results from only nine districts and there is no reason
to believe the outcome from 17 other districts would be any different. But
again, why should Ulfa take it so seriously when the organiser of this
opinion poll is of uncertain entity? It is worth repeating that the Centre
and Ulfa should settle for unconditional talks. If the Centre is negotiating
with Naga leaders, whose demands also include sovereignty, why should it
adopt a different yardstick for the Ulfa? The Mizo Accord was possible
because the Centre did not insist on a surrender of arms. An early
initiative would be most welcome
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