Decode Politics: As ULFA formally disbands, tracing its nearly half-century journey, with some miles to go

The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) formally disbanded last week, 44 years after its formation as per the conditions of a tripartite agreement signed by it last month with the Centre and the Assam government. The agreement, signed on December 29, stated that “ULFA shall abjure the path of violence, give up all arms/ammunition and disband the armed organisation within one month”.

After the pro-talks faction held its last ‘general council meeting’ on January 23, its general secretary and one of the ULFA’s founding members, Anup Chetia, said disbanding the outfit was “an emotional decision and a painful moment for us”. “We gave birth to this organisation in 1979 and had to disband it today without attaining its objective. We failed in our armed struggle and had no option but to accept what we could get for people by signing the peace accord,” Chetia said.

At the meeting held in the Darrang district, the outfit also apologised to the people of Assam for its “mistakes” and “activities” over the course of its 44-year armed struggle.

Last Thursday, Chetia and pro-talk ULFA faction chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, along with other senior members of the outfit, met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to convey him about the group’s disbanding. Soon after, Sarma posted on X: “Three cheers to new beginnings! Following the historic December 29th 2023 agreement signed under the leadership of Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah ji, the leadership of ULFA (Pro Talks) disbanded their erstwhile insurgent organisation and constituted a new socio-cultural platform, the Asom Jatiya Bikash Mancha, to serve the people of Assam through democratic means. Their leadership met me to communicate this decision in person… An entire