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ULFA Pact : Tripartite Comprehensive and Effective Agreement on Security Measures

04 Jan 2024 ULFA Pact : Tripartite Comprehensive and Effective Agreement on Security Measures

Posted at 12:54h in Daily current-affairs by
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(This article is related to the summary of the combined editorial of ‘The Hindu’, ‘Indian Express’, ‘World Focus’ and ‘PIB’. It also includes the suggestions of the YOJNA IAS team. This article is related to the UPSC Civil Services Examination specifically ‘Indian Politics’ , Insurgency, Maoism, Terrorism, Internal Security and External Security of the country. And this article is related to ‘ULFA-Pact: Tripartite Comprehensive and Effective Agreement on Security Measures’ under ‘Daily Current Affairs’ section. )

General Studies: Insurgency, Maoism, Terrorism, Internal Security and External Security of the country.

Why in discussion / News ?

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and a pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), and the Government of Assam and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), have eliminated insurgency in Assam and surrounding areas. Recently a mutual tripartite MoU has been signed. It is noteworthy that the ULFA (Independent) faction led by Paresh Baruah is still against the signing of this tripartite MoU.

What is ULFA?

  • The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) originated as an anti-immigrant movement opposing immigrants from outside the state of Assam.
  • This immigration movement started in 1979 with the demand for the formation of a separate and sovereign Assamese state for the Assamese language speaking Assamese people. Which gradually adopted the path of violent, aggressive and armed struggle in the nature of its movement.

Main aim/objective of ULFA :

  • The main objective of ULFA was to create a sovereign Assamese nation for the Assamese speaking people on the basis of language through armed struggle. For the creation of a separate sovereign Assamese nation, ULFA supporters first helped the helpless and needy people there and received their moral support and then gradually these people resorted to extortion, kidnapping, etc. to carry forward their struggle. Inhuman, undemocratic and violent methods like bomb blasts and forced hanging of people were adopted.

Central government’s reaction towards ULFA:

  • Seeing such increasing violence in Assam, the then Central Government first declared Assam a ‘disturbed area’ by imposing President’s rule in Assam and in 1990, by starting ‘Operation Bajrang’, more than 1200 ULFA militants were killed. The militants were arrested and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (ASFA) was implemented in Assam.

Geographical expansion of ULFA:

  • ULFA’s geographical spread includes camps situated in the inaccessible terrain of mountains, forests and dense and deeply wooded hills which serve as cross-border insurgent and terrorist camps. These camps serve various functions like training centers for these militants, launch pads for militant activities and shelter-in-place. Their geographical expansion extends to Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. These extremist organizations also have links with the radical Islamic organization ‘Al-Qaeda’ and Pakistan’s main intelligence agency (ISI). This fact has also come to light that Pakistan’s main intelligence agency (ISI) had earlier trained these ULFA militants to spread internal unrest in India. During the Kargil war between India and Pakistan, ULFA militants had openly supported Pakistan for its “illegal infiltration in Kargil” by writing against India in their monthly magazine “Swadhinta”. This militant organization still has a training center in Myanmar.

Main Historical reasons for the rise of ULFA:

  • In the North-Eastern states and in the state of Assam, there has been migration and arrival of people from everywhere other than the natives since the 19th century, due to which there has been a change in the culture of the natives and their conduct, behavior and food habits. Changes have occurred due to contact with migrants. With the arrival of these immigrants, the feeling of insecurity among the native residents also increased.
  • Due to the migration of these refugees who fled from the then East Pakistan as a result of the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, the situation in this area started getting worse day by day.
  • The mutual competition for the natural resources available in this area started an undeclared war between the natives and immigrants of this area, as a result, a long people’s struggle and mass movement started from 1979, which continued for almost 6 years.
  • Due to the ‘Bangladesh Liberation War’ that started in East Pakistan and also due to the support given by the then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi to the ‘Bangladesh Liberation War’, the people of this region had to cross the Indian border, due to which The number of migrants increased.
  • The situation in the region is also deteriorating due to ULFA militants buying weapons from Thailand and Myanmar to spread unrest in the region, issuing illegal passports and using fundamentalist religious organizations as external support to get these militants trained by the ISI. happened.

Political reasons for the rise of ULFA:

  • Using the AGP (Assam Gana Parishad) politically and giving in to the ULFA terrorists or remaining inactive towards it was seen as a political compulsion of the government and also by the local government to give the ULFA terrorists a political boost. Also included being used as a second line of defense for heritage.
  • The election victory of AGP in 1985 and the signing of the Assam Accord are said to be linked to each other.

Various efforts made to restore peace in the troubled region affected by militancy:

  • The PCG-People’s Consultative Group replaced the 11-member group/committee formed by ULFA in 2005 and this committee attempted to mediate three rounds of talks.
  • This committee also included Jnanpith Award winning writer and renowned intellectual, late Indira Raisom Goswami.
  • It mediated 3 rounds of talks before ULFA walked out of the discussion and launched a new wave of terror.
  • In 2008, some ULFA commanders like Arabinda Rajkhowa tried for peace talks, but this was opposed by Paresh Baruah and he was expelled from the Rajkhowa organization, which led to a split in ULFA and it was divided into two factions. Went.
  • In 2011, the pro-peace talks faction signed a Suspension of Operations (SOO) with the Government of Assam and the MHA.
  • In 2012 AD, they submitted their 12-point charter demands to the Central Government, which were finally answered in 2023.
  • In the year 2023 AD, a peace agreement was discussed between Rajkhowa’s faction and the Home Ministry of the Central Government, which recently led to the signing of the Tripartite Peace Agreement and it resulted in the Tripartite Peace Agreement. With this, it is hoped that internal peace will be restored in Assam in the coming time.

Significance of signing of Tripartite MoU:

Ensuring internal peace and security:

  • The signing of this tripartite MoU is expected to ensure internal peace in Assam, security of people’s life and property and curb illegal infiltration. Along with this, extremist activities and terrorist activities are also expected to be curbed.

Emphasis on moving forward on the path of development and progress:

  • With this tripartite peace agreement, emphasis is now being given to Assam as well as the surrounding North-Eastern states to create a new path and new paradigm for development and progress. For this, an investment of ₹ 1.5 lakh crore was promised in this area, so that this area, like other states of India, can join the mainstream and write a new story of development and progress.

Political Will and Implementation:

  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed confidence that a time-bound program will be prepared by the Home Ministry of the Government of India to fulfill the 12-point demands of ULFA while signing this tripartite MoU.

Surrender of militant organizations and violent groups:

  • With the signing of this tripartite MoU, more than 9000 hardcore militant cadres have surrendered in Assam. So that by including them in the mainstream and providing livelihood employment, they can be included in the mainstream politics and society and peace can be restored there.

Triumph of the Indian democratic process and the concept of rule of law:

  • The ULFA militants also expressed their consent to participate in the Indian democratic process and the peaceful democratic process established by the polity run by law in India and to maintain the unity and integrity of India and assured to act under the rule of law. 

Challenges in the way of tripartite MoU and government:

Incomplete and incomplete peace agreement:

  • The other faction of ULFA-I is against this agreement. The other group, ULFA-I, led by Paresh Baruah, which has the support of about 100 hardline cadres, has not yet joined the peace process agreement. Due to which, the possibility of unrest in the region may persist in the near future cannot be ruled out. can be done.

ULFA still exists across the border in India:

  • ULFA’s geographical expansion extends to Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh along with other neighboring countries bordering India. These extremist organizations also have links with the radical Islamic organization ‘Al-Qaeda’ and ‘Pakistan’s main intelligence agency (ISI). This fact has also come to light that Pakistan’s main intelligence agency (ISI) had earlier trained these ULFA militants to spread internal unrest in India. Till some time back, ULFA also had camps in countries like Bhutan and Bangladesh and it still has camps and training centers in Myanmar. As a result, even after the signing of this tripartite MoU and consensus being reached, the continued existence of ULFA across the border of India is a matter of concern for India from the point of view of internal peace and security and extremism.

ULFA’s supporting links with foreign terrorist organizations:

  • ULFA has links with several terrorist and insurgent organizations in Assam as well as in the Northeast and Myanmar, as well as radical religious and Islamic organizations such as ‘Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami’ and Islamic terrorist organizations such as ‘Al-Qaeda’. Which is a cause of concern for the security of India, both internal extremism and external terrorism.

Conclusion / Way to solve the problem:

  • Both the central and state governments should fulfill their promises:
  • Both the Central and State Governments need to fully fulfill all the commitments made during the peace agreement, keeping in mind the underlying concerns and aspirations of the communities affected by ULFA and its atrocities.

Restoration of the peace process must be ensured:

  • Both the Central and State Governments should ensure the restoration of a comprehensive and complete peace process to the common people affected by ULFA so that the common people and people of that area develop confidence in the democratic process of India and they support the unity and integrity of India. Can protect.

By fully embracing cultural, economic and social integration:

  • The Government should also ensure mainstreaming of the entire population of the area by providing vocational training, rehabilitation programs and support for full assimilation and cultural, economic and social integration of the people of that area.

To ensure continuous monitoring:

  • Both the Central and State Governments should continue to ensure that all parties involved in this agreement continue to adhere to their commitments and there should be a provision for continuous monitoring of the rules of the NICE Tripartite Agreement by both the Central and State Governments.

Disbandment of ULFA-1 (Independent) faction led by Paresh Baruah:

  • The Government of India should leverage its foreign policy at diplomatic and strategic levels to counter any support given by China to the ULFA-1 (Independent) faction led by Paresh Baruah in collaboration with the Government of Myanmar and Paresh Baruah. The ULFA-1 (Independent) faction led by D.K. must be permanently dismantled or eliminated so as to ensure restoration of peace and tranquility in Assam and the North-Eastern States of India and to put Assam and the North-Eastern States on the path of development and progress. A new epic story of development can be written while moving forward.

Practice Questions for Preliminary Exam:

Q.1 Consider the following statements regarding United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).

  1. This movement started in 1979 with the demand for the formation of a separate and sovereign Assamese state for the Assamese language speaking Assamese people.
  2. The People’s Consultative Group Committee also included Jnanpith Award winning author and renowned intellectual, late Indira Raisom Goswami.

Which of the above statement /statements is/ are correct?

(A).  Only 1

(B). Only 2

(C). Neither 1 Nor 2

(D).  Both 1 and 2.

Answer – (D).

Practice Questions for Main Exam:

Q.1. What is ULFA Tripartite Agreement? Discuss in detail the steps taken by India to prevent terrorism and extremism from the point of view of India’s internal and external peace and security?

 

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