In a bid to bring peace in Assam, "Suspension of Operation" agreement was signed between the banned ULFA and the state government of Assam Saturday, reported Economic Times.
The Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact ensures that the outfit will not carry out any rebellious activities until finding a political solution to the vexed insurgency problem while the security forces will also not take any action against the ULFA cadres.
"We had a very good round of talks. The SoO agreement was signed. The first round spells out the road to political dialogue. It is the harbinger of future talks," Joint Secretary (Northeast) in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shambhu Singh told reporters.
The SoO pact will be valid during the political talks and till a final mutual agreement is arrived.
The meeting deliberated in detail on various aspects of the ground rules of the SoO and how to maintain peace in Assam.
As per the guideline of SoS around 600 members of the rebel group will be put in special camps which will be called as "nabanirman kendras".
During the talk ULFA was not willing to accept the term "designated camps", instead preferred to called "nabanirman kendras".
But ULFA cadres are not going to surrender their arms and ammunition.
Asked whether ULFA cadres will surrender all arms and ammunition, the outfit's shot back saying, "Why should we? This is not a final agreement," foreign secretary Sashadhar Choudhury told reporters.
"This is a gentleman's agreement. We will see how the parleys go forward," Choudhury added.
Their number should also be raised from three in the state to nine, the ULFA demanded.
Meanwhile Assam chief minister does not entertain the demand for a separate state demanded by Assam's ethnic armed groups.
"We are making it clear that as of today there will be no separate state as demanded by the KLNLF (Karbi Longri National Liberation Front), the NDFB (National Democratic Front of Bodoland) and UPDS (United Peoples Democratic Front)," Gogoi said.
The recent agreement between the government and one of the major outfit of Assam will felicitate further peace talk with other groups such as KLNLF, DHD-Jewel, NDFP (Progressive).
