NEW DELHI, Dec 31 — In a big boost to Government of India’s peace plan in the North Eastern Region (NER), yet another underground outfit the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) operating in Assam has opted for talks with the Centre sealing a ceasefire pact for six months with effect from tomorrow. The DHD is the second outfit from the Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills Districts to be engaged in peace talks with the Government. Earlier last year it was a faction of the UPDS, which signed a ceasefire agreement with the Centre. Incidentally both the outfits operating in the same area are known to have close links with the NSCN(I-M), which itself is also engaged in peace talks with the Government.A Ministry of Home Affairs release said that the DHD operating in Assam has proposed to stop violence and hold talks with the Government of India to solve the Dimasa issue within the framework of the Constitution.
A meeting was held in this regard between the DHD representative, the Assam Government and the Centre in New Delhi last week. Senior Home Ministry officers conducted the meeting. Taking note of the willingness of the DHD to give up violence and take to peaceful means for solving the Dimasa problem it was agreed to suspend hostile operations between the DHD and the security forces for a period of six months with effect from January 1, 2003. It was also agreed that peace talks with all the concerned parties would follow the suspension of operations and enforcement of the ground rules. The Government of India believes in solution of problems through talks and negotiations to bring about peace, stability and development. In this regard Government of India have also made an appeal to all the militant groups in the North East to give up the path of violence and to come forward for talks within the ambit of the Constitution.
What is significant is that unlike the UPDS, there is no apparent split in the DHD and all its leaders are in agreement over the peace initiative. Although the Government has a peace pact with the UPDS it does not cover the powerful militant faction but doves like Haren Bey and his supporters. On the other hand, senior leader of DHD including Dilip Nunisa were learnt to have come here for talks with the Government. ccording to sources, Government of India, Assam Government and DHD is expected to start discussion next week to finalise the ground rules.
Significantly, the Central Government unlike the Naga peace talks has kept the State Government of Assam in the picture and it is also likely to be party in the discussion when the ground rules are finalised, sources added.
The DHD and the Government of India have been engaged in preliminary talks for the past six months with the two sides managing to work out a broad framework for peace talks. The DHD is demanding a separate State for Dimasa. Meanwhile, the Assam Congress president, Paban Singh Ghatowar has welcomed the development. The peace talks and the ceasefire agreement will help in ushering peace in the two hill districts. The peace initiative would also expedite the development work in the area, he added.