http://saharatime.com/NewsDetail.aspx?newsid=3042
ULFAs ISI link In an average Asomiya's understanding, bringing the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to the negotiation table is a tough and challenging job. It is so not because of its ideology or gallantry, but the outfit's growing nexus with Islamist fundamentalists, who would presumably never allow the ULFA leaders to come out for peace talks with the government. The relationship of ULFA leaders with the Islamist ultras thus emerges as an anxiety and an unrelenting threat to the people of Asom in the trouble-torn north-east. The indigenous Asomiya people, though living with so much resentment against New Delhi, could, however, never support an organization that is maintaining links with the religious fundamentalist groups based in Bangladesh or Pakistan. And for the ULFA leaders, who pledged to make Asom independent from India, it has appeared as the greatest challenge to convince the indigenous people that they were pursuing the same commitment and dedication for their movement. The banned armed outfit, which is fighting New Delhi since 1979, has been repeatedly insisting that sovereignty (of Asom) cannot be compromised. what was missing in those statements, issued from time to time, were the strong argument and pragmatic policies to make Asom Independent country. Moreover, ULFA leaders had never answered a few questions, which had arisen in various public forums in the recent past. Those vital questions include the outfit's growing liaison with Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence, its hand in explosions rocking the state for years and its unclear views on those hundreds thousands of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in the region. Media reports, meanwhile, continue revealing ULFA'a close links with the Islamic ultras. Quoting a US intelligence think tank, the local media had recently reported that ULFA was going to increase financial enterprises and enhance strong links with Islamist militant groups. Stratfor, in its latest analytical report titled India: Ulfa abandons peace talk, said, "Though India has largely turned a blind eye to militant groups operating in its far-flung Northeast, the growing Islamisation of the region, the deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh and these insurgents' recent reach into the heart of India's financial hub provide more than enough reason for New Delhi to start paying closer attention to its North-eastern border." As the ULFA leaders remained silent on these sensitive issues, the governments, both in Dispur and New Delhi, and also the army authorities have come out with pompous campaigns against the strongest armed group of the Northeast. Even the Asom chief minister joined the campaign stating that there was 'no doubt about linkages between the ULFA and fundamentalist jehadi groups'. Addressing media persons in Guwahati on November 1, chief minister Tarun Gogoi disclosed that he had already informed the Prime Minister about the growing nexus of ULFA with Islamist militants. Earlier, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) chief divulged that the ULFA had been maintaining links with the ISI and operating out of Bangladesh. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on October 26, CRPF director-general SIS Ahmed claimed that they had convincing information that the ULFA was getting direct and indirect support from the ISI. Meanwhile, the ULFA continues to be in media headlines with both positive and negative developments. In one incident, where ULFA militants had to face the heat of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM faction) on the Asom-Nagaland border area recently, there are reports that leaders of ULFA with that of the United National Liberation Front (Manipur) and the NSCN (K faction) had come together to revive a united forum named Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front. A press statement, issued by the ULFA leader Raju Baruah on November 12, had confirmed the news that the outfit had faced a frontal attack from the NSCN (IM), where both the armed outfits reportedly lost many of their cadres. The incident took place at Tigit, near to Sonari (Sivasagar district), where an ULFA rebel named Mridul Moran died. Some ULFA cadres were also nabbed by the opposite group, whom they urged for release immediately. In another development, the SS Khaplang-led NSCN faction had resolved to revitalize the Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front, which was formed in the nineties. Representatives from the NSCN (K), UNLF and ULFA attended a meeting in Thailand a few months back, quoting Kughalu Mulatonu, a kilonser (minister) of NSCN (K), local media reported. The Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front may include other Northeastern groups like People's Liberation Army, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup in the long run. However, depressing news came for ULFA as more than 60 cadres surrendered at a time on November 1. The ceremony, held in Guwahati witnessed the surrender of Ujjwal Gohain, the finance secretary of ULFA's 28th battalion, and three women cadres to the authority. The rebel leader Gohain was quoted by media as saying, "There are serious internal conflicts within ULFA leading to a sense of disillusionment and frustration among the ranks." The Asom police chief RN Mathur viewed that the ULFA was losing its support base and the mounting frustration finally prompted most of the cadres to join the mainstream.
_______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
