Having prepared its charter of demands, the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam is now ready for talks. They now await a formal invitation to the first round of talks with the government of India.
The charter of demands has been a closely guarded secret of the ULFA faction headed by the outfit's chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa. It has been learnt that the charter includes about 18 major demands covering socio-economic and social-political aspects of the state. The group has, however, dropped the demand for 'restoration of sovereignty of Assam' from the charter.
A source informed that the first round of negotiation is likely to be held early next month and the Centre's peace interlocutor and former chief of Intelligence Bureau, P C Haldar from the government is expected to formally invite the ULFA of talks.
Earlier, Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan, a civil society forum comprising leading intellectuals of the state carried out the groundwork to facilitate the dialogue between the ULFA faction and the government of India. The SJA also prepared the draft charter of demands for the ULFA faction by engaging experts from various fields. The draft was handed over to the ULFA faction on May 7 this year.
On the basis of the draft prepared by the SJA experts, the ULFA faction has now prepared its charter of demands. The SJA draft of demands charter included proposals for granting more autonomy to Assam through a constitutional amendment. It also recommended more power to the state to have a greater say on revenue generation from natural resources and planning, processing the use of natural resources to accelerate balanced development.
The SJA draft deals with issues like constitutional provisions for the state, review of political situation in the state, judicial exploitation and use of hydrocarbon fuels, control over revenue generated from petroleum products, infiltration from Bangladesh and problems of ethnic groups etc.
Some of the recommendations mentioned in the SJA draft are included in the final charter of demands prepared by the ULFA faction in consultation with a wider section of the society.
