ULFA, Center & Assam government signed peace Accord in New Delhi

The tripartite agreement between the Central Government, the Government of Assam and the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) was signed in New Delhi on 29 December 2023. Its objective is to establish lasting peace in the North-Eastern region.

• Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sharma, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and DGP of Assam were also in the meeting.
• With the agreement reached between the Government of India, Government of Assam and ULFA, permanent peace can now be restored in Assam. This is very important for the peace of Assam and northeastern states.
• On 29 December 2023, 700 ULFA cadres surrendered.
• Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa led the 16-member delegation of the pro-ULFA talks group. The delegation includes 16 ULFA members and 14 people from civil society.
• ULFA organization general secretary Anoop Chetia discussed this issue with peace negotiator AK Mishra.

Main points of the tripartite agreement:

• The cultural heritage of the people of Assam will remain intact.
• Even better employment opportunities will be available in the state for the people of Assam.
• The government will provide adequate employment opportunities to their cadres.
• The Government of India will make every possible effort to bring ULFA members who have left the path of armed movement into the mainstream.

About the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA):

• The separatist organization ULFA was formed in April 1979 following a movement against undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh.
• ULFA was formed in 1979 in Sivasagar's historical Rang Ghar, an Ahom-era theatre.
• Since then, it has been involved in many subversive activities, so the Central Government declared it a banned organization in 1990.
• It was divided into two groups in February 2011.
• The group led by Arabinda Rajkhowa had given up violence. This group has agreed to talk with the government unconditionally.
• Paresh Baruah, who leads the other ULFA faction, has been against talks.
• The pro-talk faction has demanded reforms to protect the identity and resources of Assam's indigenous people, including land rights.
• The radical faction of ULFA headed by Paresh Baruah is not part of this agreement. It is believed that Barua lives near the China-Myanmar border.
• The Rajkhowa faction joined peace talks with the government on September 3, 2011, when the Agreement on Suspension of Operations was signed between it and the Central and State Governments.