[Assam] Piece from the Sentinel

[Chan Mahanta]

I was surprised to see this in the Sentinel, which, more often than 
not, feeds out of the hands of the Indian MHA and does not hesitate 
to regurgitate RAW propaganda. For a change, the observations here 
are a tad bit more objective.

It is quite obvious that the dysfunctional and disoriented GoI 
responds only to violence, as we have seen for decades. Is it 
therefore any surprise in the growth of violent movements across 
India?


Highlighting is mine.

cm



All eyes on ULFA as Army halts operations

GUWAHATI, Aug 14 (IANS): New Delhi's snap decision to halt 
anti-insurgency operations in Asom is seen as a masterstroke in 
saving a fragile peace in the region from breaking down.
  The timing of the announcement of suspension of military operations 
against the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was even 
more significanxxxxt as it came despite a wave of separatist bombings 
in the last few days that killed 10 people and wounded 50 others.
  "As a goodwill gesture, the Central Government decided to suspend 
all offensive operations against militants in the State with 
immediate effect (late Sunday) for a period of 10 days," Asom Chief 
Secretary S Kabilan told IANS. "Police would, however, maintain law 
and order duties," he said.
  There were clear signs that the much-hyped peace process initiated 
by the ULFA in October last year was on the brink of collapse with 
the rebel group staging a string of explosions in the past week, 
including a landmine explosion that killed six police commandos.
  The ULFA came back with a vengeance on August 5 after lying low for 
nearly 45 days following Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil's call for 
'restraint' by both security forces and the rebels.
  The ULFA, a rebel group fighting for an independent Assamese 
homeland since 1979, is engaged in talks with New Delhi through 
intermediaries - collectively called the People's Consultative Group 
(PCG) - comprising
  civil society leaders.
  The 11 intermediaries were chosen by the ULFA in last October to 
begin exploratory talks with New Delhi. The PCG has held three rounds 
of talks aimed at paving the way for direct dialogue between New 
Delhi and the ULFA leadership. The first round was chaired by Prime 
Minister Manmohan Singh on October 26. The last round, held in New 
Delhi on June 22, was led by Shivraj Patil. In that round of 
discussions, both sides had called for restraint with New Delhi 
promising to set free five top jailed ULFA leaders to facilitate 
direct talks.
  But since the June 22 talks, New Delhi faltered on the commitments 
and instead stepped up its anti-insurgency operations against the 
ULFA, killing at least 16 rebels and capturing half a dozen.
  The ULFA warned the Government, saying New Delhi was going back on 
its promise of restraint and was taking no steps to release its 
jailed leaders. And with contradictory statements being made by both 
the Asom Government
  and New Delhi regarding direct talks and the question of releasing 
the imprisoned leaders, ULFA's patience wore thin and it began a 
massive counter-attack last week.
  Despite a heavy security blanket, ULFA bombers managed to wreak 
havoc hurling grenades and triggering blasts with ease, putting the 
State authorities to shame. There was panic all around and with 
Independence Day approaching, New Delhi decided to don the thinking 
cap and offer a temporary
  cessation of operations.
  This is a move that could put the ULFA on the back-foot and force 
the outfit to respond positively with a similar truce.
  Another aspect that New Delhi should now work on is to set the 
bureaucratic wheel moving to get the five jailed ULFA leaders 
released so that the outfit does not have any grouse left not to come 
for direct dialogue with the Government.
  If the ULFA, even after such positive gestures from New Delhi, 
dithers on holding talks, it would be suicidal for the rebels as the 
commoners in Asom, who are craving for peace, would never forgive the 
outfit.
  It is believed that once direct talks begin, a new era of hope and 
peace would dawn in this restive State where the drumbeat of violence 
echoes almost every single day.
  "We want an end to all forms of bloodshed," Indira Goswami, a noted 
Assamese writer and sought by the ULFA to mediate for peace talks, 
told IANS.
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