Sep 12, 2010 |
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The General Situation
The Home Minister Mr P Chidambaram addressing the DGP Conference in Delhi highlighted improvement of the situation in the North East, "While the year 2009 was a distinct improvement on the year 2008, it is in 2010 that we have seen a dramatic decline in the number of incidents and in the number of casualties. There have been only 464 incidents until August 15, 2010, as against 1,297 and 1,561 for the whole year in 2009 and 2008 respectively. Only 52 civilians have been killed, as against 264 and 466 respectively, and we have lost only 15 men of the security forces. Nevertheless, I must admit with regret that Manipur and Assam have been affected by long-duration blockades and bandhs and by intermittent violence" said Mr P Chidambaram.
Engaging leadership of various groups in the State, the NSCN (IM), NDFB (PT), DHD (Nunisa), DHD (J), UPDS, ANVC, KLNLF, KNO and UPF in talks is a part of the Centre"s strategy for defusing violence he claimed. For this purpose interlocutors have been nominated principally former intelligence and civil services officers who have previous experience of operating in the states. "We have appointed two Interlocutors: Shri R.S. Pandey to talk to the NSCN (IM) and Shri P.C. Haldar to talk to NDFB (PT), DHD (Nunisa), DHD (J), KLNLF, UPDS and ANVC, besides ULFA. It is my hope that ULFA will also formally come forward to begin talks with the Government of India and the Government of Assam. There is no denying that the success achieved in bringing so many groups to the negotiating table has contributed immensely to the decline of violence in the North Eastern States. I would appeal to the groups " or factions of groups " that have stayed away from talks to give up violence, accept the offer of the Governments to hold talks, enter into agreements of ceasefire or suspension of operations, and begin talks with the Governments" representatives. I am confident that solutions can be found within the Constitution of India to the demands of various groups for recognition of their identity, history, culture and desire for self-government. The best example is the Bodo Territorial Council which has turned out to be a model of self-governance within the State of Assam and within the Constitution of India," said the Home Minister.
On August 6, 2010, a tripartite agreement was signed with a Meitei outfit in Manipur, the Kangleipak Communist Party (Military Council) " Lallumba faction. As a result, 114 cadres surrendered with 81 weapons. Measures are being taken to rehabilitate all surrendered cadres. On August 22, 2010, the tripartite SoO with the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People"s Front (UPF) was extended by 45 days. This agreement has been in effect since August 22, 2008.
Independence Day celebrations in the North East went off peacefully as this is and event when militant groups are known to carry out bomb attacks. However despite assertions of the Home Minister and general reduction of violence in the North East there is much trepidation faced by people of the States as is being summarized in the succeeding paragraphs.
SEP 2010
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