Why is it in the News?

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Assam government and the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) signed a memorandum of settlement on Friday.

News Summary:

• The pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) has officially signed a tripartite Memorandum of Settlement recently with the Central government and the Assam government.
• Chairperson Arabinda Rajkhowa led the ULFA pro-talks faction, which initiated peace talks with the government on September 3, 2011, following the signing of an agreement for the Suspension of Operations with the central and state governments.
• This Memorandum of Settlement signifies the formal commitment of the ULFA faction to renounce violence and integrate into the mainstream.
• It's noteworthy that the hardline faction of ULFA, led by Paresh Baruah, remains outside the purview of the peace accord, and Baruah is reportedly residing along the China-Myanmar border.
• As part of the agreement, Assam will receive a substantial development package, marking a significant step in the peace process.
• Over the past five years, there have been 9 peace and border-related agreements signed in the Northeast region.
• In November 2023, a peace agreement was successfully negotiated with the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) in Manipur, a separatist group representing the Meitei community.

Insurgency in Assam: Causes and Dynamics

• Assam has grappled with insurgency since the 1980s, even after the formation of separate states like Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• The primary demand of many militant groups in the region has been increased political autonomy, often articulated through calls for separate statehood.

Factors Driving the Insurgency in Assam:

• Ethnic Complexities: Assam is marked by historical tensions among its indigenous ethnic groups.
• Autonomous districts like Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills are home to 15 recognized tribes, while the rest of the state has 14 tribes.
• Bodo, Mishing, Karbi, Rabha, Sonowal Kachari, Lalung, Garo, and Dimasa are major tribes, with sustained autonomy movements, especially among Bodo groups.
• Immigration Challenges: Large-scale immigration of Bengali-speaking Muslims from Bangladesh has fueled tension.
• Assamese residents perceive this migration as a threat to their identity, culture, and economic stability.
• Political Dynamics: Movements advocating sub-regional aspirations have clashed with State Governments and Autonomous Councils.
• Example: The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) intensified its movement in 1987, seeking a separate state of Bodoland on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra.
• Economic Concerns: The region's economic isolation after partition has adversely impacted its economy.
• The central government’s perception of resource exploitation has fueled sentiments supporting the insurgency.
• Understanding these complex dynamics is crucial for addressing the longstanding insurgency issues in Assam.

The Dynamic Landscape of Insurgent Groups in Assam:

• United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA): ULFA was established in April 1979 with Assamese nationalism as its guiding principle.
• It promised to free Assam and create an autonomous region called Swadin Asom (Independent Assam) that would be home to the Assamese-speaking ethnic group.
• Bodo Movement in Assam: The 1960s saw the emergence of the Bodo political movement, advocating for a homeland known as Udyachal for Assam plains tribal communities.
• The All-Bodo Students Union (ABSU), formed in 1967, became a key advocate for the Bodo cause.
• Post the Assam Accord in 1985, the ABSU played a pivotal role in reviving the movement, eventually supported by armed groups like the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
• Bodo Accords (1993, 2003, 2020): Three accords were signed, leading to the formation of the Bodoland Autonomous Council (1993), Bodo Territorial Council (2003), and a truce with NDFB factions (2020).
• The accords granted legislative, administrative, executive, and financial powers to the councils, recognizing Bodo as an associate official language.
• Karbi Insurgency: Five major militant groups in Karbi Anglong, including:
• Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger,
• People’s Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (PDCK),
• Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF),
• Kuki Liberation Front (KLF), and
• United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA).
• The insurgency by these groups revolved around the demand for an autonomous state and had taken off in the 1980s.
• A settlement in 2021 granted greater autonomy, special packages, and a Rs 1,000 crore development package over five years for the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.
• Dimasa Uprising: DNLA, the latest group in Dima Hasao district, engaged in a tripartite agreement.
• The settlement mirrors the provisions of the Karbi Anglong agreement, focusing on autonomy and special development packages for the Dimasa community.

These insurgent movements, rooted in regional aspirations, have undergone transformations through accords and settlements, aiming at greater autonomy, linguistic recognition, and developmental packages for the respective ethnic communities in Assam.

In conclusion, the recent Memorandum of Settlement between the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Assam government, and the pro-talks faction of ULFA is a positive stride towards peace. However, historical patterns warn of potential challenges post-negotiations. To holistically manage the region, establishing a North East Security Council is vital. The persistent demand for sovereignty by the Paresh Baruah-led ULFA (I) remains a significant hurdle, necessitating a nuanced and sustained approach to lasting peace.

What is the Assam Accord?

• The Assam Accord inked on 15 August 1985, stands as a pivotal Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) resulting from extensive negotiations between the Government of India and representatives of the Assam Movement.
• This historic accord materialized after a six-year-long agitation, commencing in 1979, led by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU).
• The core demand of the protestors, primarily driven by concerns about the influx of Bangladeshi immigrants, was the identification and expulsion of illegal foreigners.
• In the presence of then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in New Delhi, the accord marked a turning point.
• The leaders of the Assam Movement, cognizant of the issue’s complexity, reached a consensus to accept migrants who had entered Assam before 1 January 1966.
• In a reciprocal gesture, the Government of India acknowledged and addressed the political, social, cultural, and economic apprehensions of the Assamese people.
• As a significant commitment, the government pledged to review the electoral database, aligning it with the aforementioned date.
• Additionally, the accord underscored the government's commitment to the identification and deportation of refugees and migrants who entered Assam after 25 March 1971.
• Thus, the Assam Accord, born out of a prolonged struggle, aimed to address the multifaceted concerns surrounding immigration and safeguard the interests of the indigenous population in Assam.