Bodo peace accord hailed

By Our Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI, APRIL 2. The formalisation of ceasefire between the Centre and the Bodo Liberation Tiger Force (BLTF) has been widely welcomed by all sections of Bodo opinion.

It is hoped that a similar ceasefire agreement with the other militant Bodo outfit, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), will now become easier to conclude.

Though the NDFB has not formally given up its demand for a sovereign Bodoland, there have been indications that it has softened its stand and is willing to accept a separate Bodo State within the Indian Union.

For example, after the suspension of operations against the BLTF was announced, the NDFB in a statement said the ``Bodo people had to take up arms for (attaining) the demand for a separate State within the Indian system'' because the Centre had ``crushed'' the democratic struggle of the Bodos.

The NDFB drew attention to the fact that the Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, had ``not uttered a word about the demand for a separate Bodoland State'' and cautioned the BLTF not to fall prey to the Centre's ``conspiracy.''

The subtle nuances of these statements are considered to be straws in the wind, indicating the NDFB's changing stance.

As peace prospects brighten on the Bodo front, a simultaneous exercise is going on to extend the Naga ceasefire to the Khaplang faction of the NSCN also. Talks between the Centre and the NSCN(K) had been going on at Guwahati for about a month. The level of representation on either side was not known, according to reliable sources.

The ULFA is being helped by the NSCN(K) and the NDFB. If the Centre is able to effect a ceasefire with these two groups and they agree to abjure violence, ULFA will be further isolated.

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Section  : Regional
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