The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is expected to sign a peace agreement with the Centre government and Assam state government on Friday.
A group of 30 people from ULFA’s pro-talks side arrived in Delhi on Tuesday. They’re here to hopefully finalize talks for a peace deal. The delegation includes 16 actual ULFA members and 14 others from community groups.
Sources say the peace agreement is likely to be signed Friday afternoon. Anup Chetia, the ULFA general secretary, said the 30-member delegation of ULFA and civil society arrived on December 26th. The signing with the Union and Assam governments is scheduled for tomorrow evening.
ULFA was originally formed back in 1979 after protests against undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh. Then in 2011 it split into two factions, with one led by Arabinda Rajkhowa agreeing to unconditional talks with the government. Meanwhile, Paresh Baruah’s faction, now called ULFA Independent, is still against the talks.
The pro-talks faction has sought constitutional and political reforms for protecting the identity and resources of Assam’s indigenous people, including their land rights. The Union government sent a draft agreement in April. Talks between the two sides were held in Delhi in August.
The delegation has had a series of talks with Central government officials since arriving in Delhi before the signing of the peace pact. The Union government has signed peace deals with rebel Bodo, Dimasa, Karbi, and Adivasi outfits in Assam over the last three years. The banned ULFA-Independent would be the only major insurgent outfit in the state once the deal is inked.
