India�s Prime
Minister, Mr. Manmohan Singh filed his papers for elections to the
Rajya Sabha from Assam on 9 May. On submitting the papers he stated,
"I am grateful to the people of Assam and all the legislators for
giving me yet another opportunity to seek re-election to the Rajya
Sabha." Committing to sustained development of the state he went on
to add, "I am committed to work for sustainable, balanced and
equitable development of Assam. I have tried my best in the past and
I would continue to do so in the future."
A few days later,
Indian External Affairs Minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee announced in
the Indian Parliament that there were more than 1.5 million migrants
from Bangladesh who had settled in India. Some sources say that this
figure could be even 5 to 10 times this number. Most of these
migrants have settled in Assam. The United Liberation Front of Assam
(ULFA), a banned terrorist organization is active in the state,
regularly accused of kidnapping, extortion and assassinations. In
January this year, it targeted non Assamese labor who had settled in
the state since the beginning of the last Century some say at the
behest of its masters the ubiquitous Inter Services Intelligence of
Pakistan.
There are many other inimical organizations of varied hues
representing the state�s multi ethnic communities who have held
Guwahati to ransom over the years. It may seem ironic that a state
which is represented by the Prime Minister of a country has
festering sores which erupt from time to time questioning Mr. Singh�s
commitment to the constituency he represents.
But to those who regularly follow the Indian security scenario, this
may not be a shock. For the Indian state�s strategy for countering
numerous militancies in Assam can be best termed as, �Flip Flop�,
peace talks followed by counter militancy operations in an
interminable cycle. After resurgence in January this year, the
security Forces in the state led by the Army are reported to have
killed 51 ULFA rebels and apprehended 553 militants since January in
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The focus of operations was the ULFA
base in Arunachal Pradesh and supply routes to camps in Myanmar.
With the monsoon season in the offing ULFA�s camps in Myanmar were
isolated. There are two supply routes, one from Dibru-Saikhowa
National Park in Upper Assam to Myanmar via Arunachal Pradesh and
the other route is from Sonari -Sapekhati in Sivasagar district to
Myanmar. Denial of supplies particularly malaria drugs is likely to
create a major problem for the ULFA cadres in Myanmar.
The multi pronged strategy of cutting off the supply routes along
with hitting at the ULFA bases in Arunachal Pradesh has brought the
militancy under control for the, �nth� time in Assam, though the
ULFA maintains capability to launch bomb and IED attacks. With the
Caretaker Administration in Bangladesh appearing amenable to
suppress Indian militants operating in the country, there were
renewed hopes of the ULFA being neutralized permanently.
But the Assam government renewed offer for peace talks with ULFA to
provide for better atmosphere for development and investment in the
state, "We appeal to the ULFA to come for talks for the greater
interest of the state. The insurgency situation and extortions are
sending wrong signals to outside investors," Assam Chief Minister
Tarun Gogoi said, �despite the insurgency many people were doing
flourishing business in Assam and many more were keen to invest in
the state�. The government probably hoped that the ULFA with
pressure from the Bangladesh Caretaker Administration and Myanmar
with the chain of supply cut off would be amenable to peace. The
Army on the other hand warned the State Government against talks
with the ULFA as it is felt that the ULFA is under pressure and can
be sufficiently neutralized to breaking point.
A firm policy in Assam particularly with reference to abductions and
kidnappings is essential. Lack of the same and vacillating attitude
of the government towards peace talks based on pressures from civil
society elements which have clear ULFA backing has provided the ULFA
enough leeway to carry on with its nefarious activities. The time in
Assam is to act firm and root out militancy once and for all rather
than providing the ULFA leeway for its criminal and terrorist
activities. Nobody doubts the sincerity and genuineness of purpose
of India�s Prime Minister and his commitment to the people of the
country. However transforming words into action by adopting a firm
policy in Assam to bring the ULFA militancy to an end would be the
best sustainable development measure that Mr. Manmohan Singh can
contribute to the State.
May 12, 2007
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