[Assam] Piece from the Sentinel

[Ram Sarangapani]

C'da,

Below from the Assam Tribune (today). Also, from the Sentinel piece, just
wanted to highlight this from what you sent.
**
*"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."*

There definitely are a lot behind-the-scenes stuff going around. Reading
both from the Sentinel and the AT, we don't know if the GOI was trying to
pull a fast one here or the ULFA sent out 'feelers'.
Wonder what those feelers are?

--Ram

_____________
*Army ops called off after 'feelers from ULFA'
*From Our Spl Correspondent
 NEW DELHI, Aug 14 – The sudden move to suspend Army operations against ULFA
came after the Government of India received "feelers through reliable
sources", highly placed sources told newsmen here today. Clarifying the
circumstances under which the operations were suspended yesterday, a top
official in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the move was not
sudden, as it appeared, but was part of a well-thought-out strategy. The
official, however, declined to specify who the "reliable source" was.

"The Government of India has received feelers from ULFA," was all he was
willing to divulge.

The official was not even willing to say, if the 'reliable sources', was
from the Peoples Consultative Group (PCF). The Centre has been insisting on
establishing direct contact but so far ULFA has preferred to talk through
the PCG.

The MHA official said that the suspension of operation was an opportunity
for ULFA to come forward for talk. But hastened to add that the operation
was suspended for only few days not indefinitely.

Army has been asked to return to barracks to allow the ULFA to talk among
themselves and decide on joining the peace process. It is a goodwill gesture
from the Government of India, the official said.

The possibility of releasing the ULFA Central committee members has been
ruled out for the moment, with the MHA insisting that it may be done
simultaneously once the direct talks begins.

Officials also added that the Centre was with the State Government and
acting in tandem.

When asked about the confusion yesterday over the suspension of operation,
the official said that yesterday being Sunday and with most of the top
officials busy with Independence Day celebrations, the information could not
conveyed to all top officials. All concerned officials have been intimated
today.

Sources confided that the order to suspend operation came from the Office of
the National Security Adviser. However, M.K.Narayanan had last night feigned
ignorance about the move to suspend operations.

Meanwhile, an official spokesman of the MHA warned that if ULFA indulged in
violence during the suspension of operation period, then security forces
would retaliate. The Centre has offered them an opportunity with the hope
that ULFA reciprocates the gestures.

On the other hand, the Centre is concerned over reports of the ULFA
regrouping and setting up new bases in neighbouring Bhutan.

Officials said that they were presently not thinking in terms of requesting
an eviction operation. The intention is to discuss this with the ULFA when
they sit for talk, to explore the possibility of rehabilitating the inmates
within Asom. One of the reason for exercising restraint was the reported
presence of women and children in the camps.

The re-establishment of the camps sent alarm bells ringing and Chief of Army
of Bhutan, Batoo Tshering rushing down to Delhi to meet Indian officials. He
held meeting with Chief of Army Staff, General J.J.Singh, last week, fueling
speculations about possible army operations.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry officials are likely to meet Dr Mamoni Raisom
Goswami and Rebati Phukon later this week. Dr Goswami said that Phukon was
expected to arrive here after August 15, after which they would call on the
Central Government officials. Phukon, meanwhile, has emerged as a key person
in the whole affair. An old hand, Phukon enjoys close rapport with top Home
Ministry officials including the NSA.

The one-time football referee and close friend of commander-in-chief Paresh
Baruah has been insisting that direct talks between the two sides was
coming.



On 8/15/06, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>  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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>
>
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