Why In News?: The Hindu Editorial “Centre, Assam sign peace pact with ULFA faction”.

Recently, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Assam government and the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) signed a memorandum of settlement.

• Prelims: United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA),  All Assam Students Union, Assam Accord, and Operation Bajrang. 
• Mains: Peace Pact with ULFA- Significance, Challenges and Way Forward.

What is United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA)?

• Origins: It sprang from the anti-immigrant All Assam Students Union movement, which started in 1979 and called for the creation of an Assamese sovereign state. 
  • Bhimakanta Buragohain, Arabinda Rajkhowa, Anup Chetia, Pradip Gogoi, Bhadreshwar Gohain, and Paresh Baruah were the key leaders of this group of radical intellectuals.
• Objectives: To establish a sovereign Assamese nation through armed struggle. 
• Approach: During the initial years, it projected itself to help needy people. Then adopted violent approach like kidnappings and extortion, executions, bomb blasts. 
• Government Response: In 1990, Operation Bajrang by the Center to tackle growing violence and arrest over 1,200 ULFA insurgents. Assam was declared a ‘disturbed area’, President’s rule was imposed, and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was invoked.

What are the Reason for Rise of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA)

• Historical Factors: Assam has a complicated demographic history that includes migration from other parts of India and neighboring nations. Certain groups were concerned about the destruction of Assamese identity and culture as a result of this. The Assam Accord of 1985, which attempted to solve concerns of illegal immigration and protect indigenous peoples’ cultural and linguistic rights, was viewed as insufficient by some and failed to meet the ambitions of certain segments of the population.
• Ethnic Identity and Alienation: The community has a strong sense of identity and a distinct culture and language. The influx of migrants in the nineteenth century created an increasing sense of fear.
• Economic Grievances: Economic imbalances and perceptions of the central government and multinational corporations exploitation of the region’s natural resources fostered discontent. ULFA used these complaints to gather support by portraying itself as a champion of Assam’s economic interests and advocating for wealth redistribution.
• India’s Partition in 1947 led to the sense of insecurity. 
• The Bangladesh Liberation War led to this region’s people crossing over to India post.
• Got External Support: Trained by ISI, issue of Illegal Passport and use of Religious Institutions to procure arms from Thailand and Myanmar by ULFA. 
• Political Factors: The AGP (Asom Gana Parishad) government is said to have remained apathetic in the face of ULFA terrorism. They were compelled by politics and saw ULFA as their second line of defense.
  • The signing of the 1985 Assam Accord and the AGP’s electoral victory were intertwined with each other. 

A Path to Peace Through the ULFA Peace Pact

• 2005: (ULFA) established an 11-member “People’s Consultative Group” (PCG), which mediated three rounds of discussions.
• 2008: Some ULFA leaders, such as Arabinda Rajkhowa, advocate for peace negotiations, but Paresh Baruah is opposed and is ejected from Rajkhowa’s outfit, resulting in a schism in the ULFA.
• 2012: The pro-talks faction issued a 12-point charter of demands (covering constitutional, political, financial, and cultural concerns) in 2012, which was finally addressed in 2023. 
• 2023: Peace Accord between Rajkhowa’s faction and the Centre was followed, culminating in the tripartite peace agreement.
  • One of the major key points is that 97 out of 126 Assembly seats would be reserved for indigenous people and the future delimitation exercise would follow this principle. 

Significance of the Peace Pact with ULFA

• Progress and Development: ₹1.5 lakh crore investment had been pledged in the peace accord. 
• Political Will and Implementation: A time-bound program will be made by the Home Ministry to fulfill the demands of ULFA. 
• Ensuring Peace Assam: With an aim to achieve resolution and closure. 
• Violent Groups Surrendered: As more than 9000 cadres have surrendered on record. 
• Triumph of Democratic Process: ULFA has also agreed to engage in the peaceful democratic process established by law and maintain the integrity of the country.

Challenges

• The other faction known as ULFA-I led by Paresh Baruah, has not joined the peace process. ULFA-I has support of 100 cadres.
• Cross- Border Existence: ULFA has survived in some part due to help from outside India. It still has camps in Myanmar, and previously had camps in Bangladesh and Bhutan. 
• Supporting Links: ULFA has links to other insurgent outfits in the Northeast and Myanmar, as well as Islamic terror outfits like Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami, and Al-Qaeda.

Way Forward

• Government needs to fulfill the promises made during the peace agreement, addressing the concerns and aspirations of (ULFA) and the affected communities.
• Complete Peace Process: Ensure a comprehensive and thorough peace process.
• Complete Integration and Assimilation: By involving rehabilitation programs, vocational training, and support for their social and economic integration.
• Ensure Continued Monitoring: To ensure that all parties adhere to their commitments.
• Neutralizing ULFA-1: Through collaboration with the Myanmar government. Diplomatic channels must be leveraged to counter any support provided to ULFA-1 by China.

Mains Question: A peace agreement was recently signed by the government and a faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). Discuss the issues surrounding peace treaties with insurgent organizations and the rehabilitation of former militants in light of this. What institutional and legal structures are necessary to provide long-term solutions?(15 Marks, 250 words)