Chetia's return can boost peace talks

The Bangladesh government has acted in the interest of best bilateral relations with India by handing over the general secretary of the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), Anup Chetia, last week. Chetia, who is third in the Ulfa hierarchy, has been in Bangladesh prisons for the past about 15 years, first serving a term for illegal entry and on other charges and later awaiting a decision on his request for political asylum. Dhaka had handed over Ulfa president Arabinda Rajkhowa to India during the time of the UPA government. The Sheikh Hasina government has again shown that it is sensitive to India’s security concerns and requirements. Bangladesh is no longer a hospitable ground for anti-India activities, as it once used to be. There have been reports that Chetia himself
wanted to return to India, though it is not clear whether he wants to join the peace process now under way between the Centre and the pro-talks faction of Ulfa.

Rajkhowa, who has been leading the peace talks for Ulfa, is keen to involve Chetia also in the negotiations. It is felt that Chetia will sooner or later join the talks, because his wish to return to India would otherwise be pointless. Involvement of Chetia would give a major boost to the peace process. It will make it more representative and give it legitimacy. If Chetia joins the talks, the only important leader who will be left out of it will be Paresh Barua, who heads the military wing of Ulfa and is believed to be operating out of the Myanmar-China border. Barua is opposed to any talks and is set to head a forum of all insurgent groups based in Myanmar. But there is a view that Chetia may be able to persuade Barua and some other hardline Ulfa fugitives to come to the negotiating table.

The talks process, which has slowed down considerably, needs to be expedited. But there is a danger of politics influencing the talks because Assam is set to face assembly elections in a few months from now. The BJP will be a serious contender in the elections. However, it will be wrong to mix electoral politics with the Ulfa peace process. The claim made by the Assam unit of the BJP taking credit for Chetia’s repatriation is therefore a bad portent. It is wrong for the party or the government to take credit for it. That will only help to give a political colour to any agreement that may emerge from the peace process.