NEW DELHI, May 23 ? In a significant development, Government of India today entered into a ceasefire pact with the United Peoples Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) for a year. This is the second militant group of Assam to opt for a ceasefire agreement with the Union Government. The latest ceasefire pact is likely to bring some respite for Assam Government in restoring peace in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts. The NSCN (I-M) backed outfit had unleashed a reign of terror in the two districts, escalating tensions. As reported earlier by this newspaper, a section of the UPDS was engaged in negotiations with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and a ceasefire pact was being negotiated.
Meanwhile, MHA sources here disclosed that a faction of the outfit led by its general secretary, Horensing Bey signed a ceasefire agreement with the Government for a year. The pact was signed by Sri Bey and Special Secretary (North-east), AM Nimbalkar on behalf of the Central Government. It was agreed at the peace talks that all parties concerned would follow the suspension of hostile operations. Sources said that consequent upon signing of the ceasefire pact, security forces in Assam would call off all operations against the outfit in the two districts. The Government of India, it has done with the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT), has agreed to carry forward the ceasefire agreement by engaging the UPDS in political negotiations. It was also agreed at the peace talks that all parties concerned would follow the suspension of hostile operations, sources added.
Meanwhile, an MHA release said that the UPDS had so far been pursuing its goal of self-rule through violent means and had been active in the districts of Karbi Anglong and NC Hills in Assam. It is a matter of immense satisfaction that this faction of the UPDS led by Bey has come forward and expressed its willingness to give up violence and resolve the problems peacefully within the framework of the Indian Constitution, the release added. ?It is also Government of India?s policy that the grievances of various groups should be resolved through peaceful means and within the Constitutional framework. The ceasefire with the UPDS is a meaningful step in line with the Centre?s policy,? the MHA said.
However, unlike the BLT, the UPDS is split into two factions, with the anti-talks faction wielding maximum firepower. The other faction includes several of the top leaders of the undivided UPDS including its chairman and the commander-in-chief. What is even more significant is the link between the outlawed ULFA and NSCN (I-M) with the anti-talks faction. According to sources, it is ULFA which played a major role in unifying the erstwhile KPF and UNV into one which was renamed as UPDS. The ULFA is known to still use the bases of UPDS for its operations in the adjoining district of Nagaon. The UPDS training camps are known to be used by ULFA cadres as hideouts and for rest.
Meanwhile, president of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), Paban Singh Ghatowar welcoming the signing of the ceasefire pact hoped that it would bring peace and tranquility to the two hill districts. ?We want the Centre to take similar initiatives to bring the ULFA to the negotiation table in the interest of overall peace in Assam,? he appealed. Ghatowar said that the Centre should take renewed interest in starting peace negotiations with ULFA, he added.