Centre’s efforts to herald new peace in northeast

GUWAHATI - The initiatives taken by the Union Government to bring about peace in northeast seem to be bearing fruit.

The militant groups are being encouraged to give up violence and opt for a democratic path and the Centre is willing talk to them and resolve all issues that would pave the way for the rapid development of the region.

The arrest of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) leaders followed by serious efforts to bring others leaders to negotiating table and surrender of the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) cadres besides the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) (IM) proposing talks have provided hopeful signs for the people of the region to foresee peace in the region.

Centre has always shown its willingness to enter into a peace dialogue with any group, which is willing to abjure violence and place its demand within the framework of the Constitution of India.

Consequently, now the people want ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Baruah also to take part in the talks to usher peace in the north eastern region.nd no wonder, all these initiatives have led to a decline in the level of militancy.We belong to Assamesse business community and we want peace in the state, we do not want violence and this violence should come to a stop and all the militant groups should come for a talk with the Governement,” said Dhiren Sharma, a local businessman.

On February 11, nearly 400 cadres of KLNLF surrendered along with their arms.

The surrender has given impetus to the delayed developmental projects in Karbi Anglong district.

A Development package has been announced for Karbi Anglong by the state government. urrender by the DHD (Jewel) or Black Widow in Oct 2009 has helped in restoring peace in North Cachar Hills.

“Well the situation has been improving because of the surrender of KLNLF in Karbi Anglong and DHD(Jewel) faction in NC Hills. Certainly this will usher a new era of peace and prosperity in the region,” said Noni Gopal Mahanta, Guwahati University faculty member.

And there is no doubt about that. But at the same time it is essential that the government take the issues raised by these groups seriously. So that these issues are taken care of.

Union Home Secretary G K Pillai in his recent visit to Myanmar had fruitful talks with the government for a coordinated effort to flush out militants from the region.

In a major move, NSCN (IM) has proposed to come forward for talks this April. n December 2009, outlawed ULFA commanders were nabbed by the Bangladeshi forces and handed over to India.

ULFA leaders like Rajkhowa, Chitrabon Hazarika, Sasha Choudhary and others are imprisoned in Guwahati Central Jail.

The Centre is trying to get ULFA to the negotiating table.

All these developments augur well despite no formal request for peace dialogue at the organisational level having been received so far from the ULFA.

“Now we want ULFA to come forward and we want that they should take some initiative and have a peace talk with the government,” said Kamal Bora, a local.

The people in the region want to lead a normal life and want peace and normalcy to return as soon as possible. (ANI)