ULFA Peace Deal: Background and Recent Developments

December 27, 2023

After years of negotiations, the central government is on the cusp of finalizing a historic peace deal with the pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on December 29th, 2023. This is seen as a major step by the Modi government towards resolving long-standing insurgency issues in Assam and the Northeast.

Background of ULFA

The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was formed on April 7, 1979, originally seeking the “restoration of Assam’s sovereignty.” The founders of ULFA believed Assam had been neglected and exploited by the Indian government after independence in 1947. They advocated for either full independence or much greater autonomy for the state.

In 1990, after increased militant activities like bombings and killings by ULFA, the central government banned the group and declared them terrorists. This led to a crackdown by security forces, but ULFA continued to operate from bases across the border.

Split in ULFA

In 1991, after the death of a top militant leader, many ULFA members surrendered to the Indian government. This caused a split in the group between those wanting to negotiate with the state and hardliners like commander Paresh Barua who vowed to continue the armed struggle.

Peace Talks Begin

In 2011, with many leaders arrested in Bangladesh and turned over to India, the ULFA faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa decided to engage in unconditional peace talks with the central government. A tripartite agreement was also signed in the same year.

However, Paresh Barua rejected talks and formed a separate group called ULFA (Independent) that continues insurgent activities today.

The Rajkhowa faction has put forward several demands in the negotiations, including tribal status and reservations for indigenous ethnic groups in Assam as well as protection for their identity, language, and culture. They also want rights over local resources and mines. The main goal is safeguards to prevent marginalization due to illegal immigration from Bangladesh, which has been a longstanding concern.

Recent Developments

Top ULFA leaders like Anup Chetia and Sashadhar Choudhury traveled to Delhi in late December to finalize details with intelligence officials. Key components expected to be included are:

Financial packages for rehabilitation of militants
Review of citizenship lists regarding illegal Bangladeshi immigrants
New reservations of land and rights for indigenous Assamese people
Constitutional provisions for cultural, economic, political autonomy/safeguards

Other original demands from the 2011 talks included settling royalties from mining/oil, border security measures, and amnesty for ULFA members.

Final Peace Deal

The historic peace accord with the ULFA faction is expected to be signed on December 29th. The deal would provide:

Constitutional provisions for protecting indigenous communities
Financial packages for rehabilitation of militants
Scrutiny of citizenship lists to detect illegal immigrants
Greater autonomy for Assam on security, cultural, and economic matters

The agreement would be a major step toward ending the ULFA insurgency and providing stability for the people of Assam. However, some militant holdouts remain, and it will take sustained effort by all sides to fully implement peace in the region. The talks demonstrate that despite years of bloodshed, non-violent negotiation can achieve progress in even deep-rooted conflicts.

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