NEW DELHI: Government Wednesday indicated that army and para-military operations in Assam would be suspended immediately as a sequel to the United Liberation Front of Assam’s (ULFA) announcement to suspend violent activities and non-interference in the election process.
In a positive reaction Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar Wednesday welcomed the ULFA announcement and said this would help create a proper climate for holding elections in the East Indian state.
The prime minister said in the changed situation operations by the army and para-military organisations will not be necessitated.
An official spokesman indicated here the Assam government would announce immediately the holding in abeyance of military “operation Bajrang”.
The ULFA in a statement issued in Guwahati and a copy of which was available here had extended its ceasefire till further orders and also announced withdrawal of the ultimatum given to various political parties and non-interference in election process in the state.
ULFA has been indulging in violent activities in the state to assert its demand for a separate assumes homeland during the past few years.
Chandra Shekhar in the statement said the UFLA announcement was bound to help the process of providing an atmosphere of trust and confidence. “I hope the restoration of a democratic government in Assam would lead to easing of tension in the region” the prime minister added.
The spokesman said government believed that ULFA’s positive offer could lead to holding of meaningful talks with militants. He disclosed that there was an interaction between the Assam government and the ULFA and that the state governor had recently received a letter from ULFA militants.
Recently over 162 ULFA men had surrendered to the army in Upper Assam and 256 ULFA activists had been released on bail.
The ULFA statement issued by its general secretary Anup Chetia hoped that the government would respond to their offer and immediately withdraw all special enactments imposed after the president’s rule in the state declaring the entire state as disturbed area and banning of the organisation.
The ULFA has also demanded withdrawal of army. As to their ultimatum to political parties barring the communist party of India and the Indian People’s Front the ULFA statement said though the ultimatum had expired on March 30 the Front would refrain from taking any penal action due to the present situation.
The ULFA statement said as indicated earlier the Front did not recognize the political process in the state and hence it would not interfere with holding of elections and other political process in the state.
The spokesman when asked if the government would now lift the ban on the Front said it was an ongoing process.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 26, 1991
