Human rights body offers to mediate between ULFA-I & the Centre for peace

GUWAHATI: The International Human Rights Council (IHRC), a United Nations-recognised organisation, has expressed its willingness to be the mediator between the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) and the Centre.

IHRC national general secretary Kamal Raj Chetry has written a letter to the ULFA-I Commander-in-Chief Paresh Baruah expressing the organisation’s willingness to mediate between the outfit and the government.

“IHRC is elated with the recent news of your decision and willingness to negotiate with the government (Govt. of Assam and Central Govt. ) to bring an end, the differences between you and your contemporary,” the letter to Paresh Baruah said.

He then went on to urge ULFA (I) Commander Paresh Baruah, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "come to a conclusion and end this long confrontation by bringing peace and neutrality not only in Assam but to the whole Northeast and India in general."

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Both the Assam and Central governments, on their part, have expressed keen interest to begin negotiations with the proscribed ULFA (I), especially in view of recent kidnappings for ransom.

After taking charge as the Chief Minister of the state, senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma appealed to Paresh Baruah to come forward for peace talks.

"A dialogue with the ULFA is a two-way traffic. Paresh Baruah has to come forward. Similarly, we have to go to him. If both sides have the will, communication won't be difficult," Sarma said.

He said peace returned to Bodoland Territorial Region and Karbi Anglong after the Centre signed peace pacts with the various insurgent groups.

"Over the past five years (under the BJP government), people saw a process of peace and development in Assam. Peace returned to Bodo areas and Karbi Anglong. Our efforts now will be to bring the remaining rebel groups to the talks table for the establishment of permanent peace in the state," the CM said.

Sarma remains optimistic that the government will be able to bring all groups, still wielding the gun, to the mainstream within the next five years.

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