Thirty-two years after it was born with the resolve of an armed struggle for a sovereign state,the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Tuesday announced a unilateral ceasefire with its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa saying it was done with a view of explore a lasting peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict. The ceasefire was announced through a press release signed by Rajkhowa himself,who said it was a decision of the ULFAs general council held on February 22,which had empowered him to take such a decision recognising and respecting the desire of the vast majority of people of Assam for a peaceful solution. Rajkhowa also said that the decision to announce a ceasefire was also motivated by the earnest desire of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,Home Minister P Chidambaram and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi that an honourable,meaningful discussion should continue in a peaceful atmosphere conducive for political negotiations. This is the first time since its inception in 1979 that the ULFA has declared a ceasefire at its highest level. Earlier,in January 1992,a delegation of ULFA leaders led by its general secretary Anup Chetia had given an undertaking to the then prime minister P V Narasimha Rao to desist from all forms of violence. A month later,the ULFA did announce a ceasefire in view of school exams in the state,though that was more seen as a tactical move in view of Operation Bajrang that was launched in November 1991. The ULFA is currently engaged in informal talks with the government of India after the latter appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief P C Haldar as interlocutor in July last year. Most of the top ULFA leaders barring self-styled commander-in-chief Paresh Barua and a few others are currently freely moving around in Assam after they were arrested and released in the past few years. While a delegation of the ULFA,led by chairman Rajkhowa met Prime Minister Singh and Chidambaram in New Delhi in February this year,the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan a citizens convention has already handed over to the ULFA a large number of suggestions on the basis of which the group is likely to hold talks with the government.
