Arabinda Rajkhowa and other Ulfa leaders in Tinsukia district on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos

Kakopathar, April 7: After waging an armed struggle for 32 years, Ulfa today admitted the futility of armed rebellion, saying it would not yield “any solution” and that it had not been able to “liberate even a small village” in three decades.

Addressing a meeting of about 400 cadres and families of Ulfa martyrs at the outfit’s designated camp in Kakopathar under Tinsukia district of Upper Assam on the outfit’s 32nd raising day, chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said, “It’s true that the government of India could not finish Ulfa by using its military might. But the Ulfa, too, despite the sacrifice of thousands of our youths, could not liberate even a small village, forget the whole of Assam.

“Realising this and showing respect towards the wishes of the people of Assam, which was expressed through the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan, we came forward for formal political negotiations with India.”

Rajkhowa said the time had come for the people of Assam to choose between armed struggle and political negotiations and stick to one.

After giving a vivid account of Ulfa struggle over the last three decades, he said, “Many people will still try to lure a section of our rural youths to armed struggle but after more than 30 years of armed struggle against the Government of India, we can say that it will not bring us any solution.”

Rajkhowa, who was flanked by vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi and political adviser Bhimkanta Buragohain, said the Centre had, through a letter dated May 25, 2005, reached out to Ulfa saying that solutions to all problems could be found through dialogue and had expressed its willingness to discuss all the core issues of Assam. “The first round of discussions got under way in New Delhi in the presence of the Prime Minister on February 14 this year. The government has reciprocated well, assuring us of a meaningful and acceptable solution to the issues raised by us. We have stressed upon a time-bound solution and made it clear that we are not interested in discussions for the sake of discussions,” he added.

Rajkhowa said the agenda for future discussions with New Delhi, which would include all the core issues plaguing Assam, was being drafted and would acquire a final shape very soon.

He said the government would also have to give answers on the whereabouts of the 24 missing Ulfa leaders, including self-styled majors Asanta Bagh Phukon, Bening Rava and Robin Neog, “captain” Abhijit Deka and “lieutenant” Ajoy Narzary, who went missing during Operation All Clear launched by the Royal Bhutan Army in 2003.

Pradip Gogoi said there was no rift in the Ulfa hierarchy and there were no factions called the Paresh Barua faction or the Arabinda Rajkhowa faction. “Paresh Barua has never said that he is not interested in holding talks. There might be some difference in opinion, but this does not mean that there is a division,” he said.

The commanding officer of Ulfa’s 709 battalion, Hira Sarania, also made his first public appearance today during the function along with the commanding officers of 27 battalion, Pallab Saikia, and 109 battalion, Gullit Das. There were murmurs of Sarania having joined the Rajkhowa group but there was no confirmation till he surfaced today.

Sarania, who had joined the outfit in 1987, reportedly commanded its activities in Guwahati and lower Assam. He is also reported to have been responsible for the kidnapping of P.C. Ram, the executive director of FCI, Northeast Circle, who was later killed in a crossfire during an encounter between Ulfa and security forces. Sarania told this correspondent that “some understanding” had been worked out so that he is not harassed by agencies investigating the Ram case. He, however, refused to give details.

In the morning, Rajkhowa raised the flag of the outfit, was formed on April 7, 1979 at Rangghar in Sivasagar, and the Ulfa rank and file, initiated by Bhimkanta Buragohain, paid tribute to the martyrs. Police and CRPF personnel were seen guarding the venue from a 100-metre distance.

More than 120 families who had lost their sons and daughters in Ulfa’s armed struggle, were invited to the function. They were felicitated by Ulfa leaders, including Rajkhowa, with phulam gamocha. However, apart from sympathy and the status of Jatiya Swahid, it is not known whether the Ulfa leadership gave the martyrs’ families anything else.

The chairman of the Terror Victims’ Families Forum, Brojen Hazarika, said, “It is good that Rajkhowa and his followers have realised the futility of armed struggle after the unnecessary death of several thousands. But they cannot save their skin by saying so. They will have to ensure that there is no further bloodshed, no life is lost and that those who are still in the jungles return home.”