Has ULFA lost its relevance?

GUWAHATI - The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was formed in Assam in 1979 to fight for an independent homeland. More than three decades down the line, the outlawed outfit is still waging a war, but with a seemingly dwindling support base.

On its foundation day (April 7) Wednesday, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said: “There is no popular support in Assam for the ULFA and people by and large have already rejected its ideology.”

The outfit is not ready to admit it.

“ULFA stands for the people of Assam. In the three decades, some 12,000 people became martyrs. We want a conducive atmosphere so that peace talks with the government can begin,” ULFA vice chairman Pradeep Gogoi said Wednesday.

Many scoff at the outfit’s attempt to wear a brave face even as it is visible that it is losing ground.

“ULFA never had any relevance. The cause for which they were fighting (independence or sovereignty) was not at all justified. Today, the ULFA is nothing but a group of trigger-happy hoodlums,” said Abhijit Sharma, leader of the Assam Public Works, an NGO known for its anti-ULFA stand.

Barring the ULFA’s elusive commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah, the entire top brass is in jail. They include chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, self-styled foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury, finance secretary Chitrabon Hazarika, cultural secretary Pranati Deka and ULFA political ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain.

Gogoi and publicity chief Mithinga Daimary were also in jail but were released on bail last month by a Guwahati court. Both are now trying to drum up public opinion to start peace talks between New Delhi and the rebel leadership.

“The ULFA today has become an outfit surviving just on media releases and carrying out odd attacks here and there without any real sting,” a senior army commander said requesting not to be named.

Unlike in the past when the entire security apparatus went into a tizzy in the run up to ULFA’s foundation day, this time Assam did not witness any such unprecedented security arrangements.

“We were on alert as usual but we also sensed that ULFA has somewhat lost its earlier strength. It has suffered heavy reverses in recent months. Either its leaders were arrested or their top commanders killed,” an Assam police official said.

The first visible cracks within ULFA was seen in June 2008 when leaders of the Alpha and Charlie companies of its 28th battalion, the two most potent striking units, declared a unilateral ceasefire and named themselves as the ‘pro-talk ULFA faction’.

Some 150 cadres came out along with their leaders to surrender and are now lodged at government-run designated camps.

“There was no point in fighting a war from bases abroad and hence we decided to respect the wishes of the people of Assam for peace. We want a political solution by way of peace talks with the government,” pro-talk ULFA leader Mrinal Hazarika told IANS.

Even as it is too early to hope for lasting peace, victims and family members of those killed by the ULFA are unable to forget the pain.

“What is the point in talking peace with ULFA leaders who killed hundreds of innocent civilians… My son was killed in the most brutal manner for no fault. We see them (ULFA) as our enemies,” said Monikuntala Das, whose son was kidnapped and killed by the group way back in 1999.