Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CALCUTTA447
2006-09-28 12:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:
INDIA'S CEASE-FIRE WITH ULFA ENDS
how-toVZCZCXRO3103 PP RUEHBI RUEHCI DE RUEHCI #0447 2711233 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 281233Z SEP 06 FM AMCONSUL CALCUTTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1188 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1059 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 0255 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0254 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0198 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0419 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0419 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0092 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 1454
UNCLAS CALCUTTA 000447
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR, SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER IN BT PGOV
SUBJECT: INDIA'S CEASE-FIRE WITH ULFA ENDS
REF: CALCUTTA 0362
UNCLAS CALCUTTA 000447
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR, SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER IN BT PGOV
SUBJECT: INDIA'S CEASE-FIRE WITH ULFA ENDS
REF: CALCUTTA 0362
1. (U) Summary: Citing continuing violence and extortion, the
Government of India (GOI) on September 24 ended the six-week
ceasefire it had with the United Liberation Front of Asom
(ULFA). The GOI decision comes in the wake of ULFA's reluctance
to commit in writing to taking part in direct peace talks.
While the GOI indicates that it continues to pursue peace, it
will double its troop presence on the India-Bhutan border in an
effort to prevent ULFA terrorists from using Bhutan as a base of
operations. End Summary.
2. (U) The Union Home Ministry announced that the ceasefire was
officially called off on September 24, 2006. A day earlier a
tea estate manager in Assam was kidnapped and killed by ULFA.
News reports indicated that in recent months ULFA had been
threatening tea estate managers and businessmen in the state to
pay "taxes" to the group. In response to the killing, Indian
troops have killed at least 2 suspected ULFA members.
3. (SBU) The year-old peace initiative to bring the GOI and
ULFA to the negotiating table is another casualty of the GOI's
resumption of operations against ULFA. However, sources told
Post that ULFA was never seriously interested in peace, citing
the lack of ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua's personal
involvement in the process. The GOI's key demand that ULFA
agree in writing to peace negotiations was never met. For its
part, ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa repeatedly stated to the
media that talks with the Indian government without raising the
issues of sovereignty and freedom would not bear fruit. In
addition, the GOI continues to hold five ULFA prisoners, whose
release has been a long-standing ULFA demand.
3. (U) GOI concerns now include securing India's border with
neighboring Bhutan. The Bhutanese Army had destroyed a number
of ULFA base camps within it's borders in 2003. While GOI
officials do not believe that ULFA camps are operating out of
Bhutan at this time, one news report cited a pending doubling of
Indian troops to a total of 10,000 along India and Bhutan's
240-mile border. News reports also suggest that Maoists from
Nepal may be trying to sneak into Bhutan in support of a wider
campaign against the Indian Army.
4. (SBU) Comment: The tenuous cease-fire did not have the
complete support of Indian Army officials, who felt that Delhi
was too trusting of ULFA leadership. Recent events only lend
credence to the Army's view. While publicly taking a
wait-and-see approach, the Army's mounting preparations indicate
a pending large-scale operation and that it will respond to any
further ULFA attacks with force. End Comment.
JARDINE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR, SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER IN BT PGOV
SUBJECT: INDIA'S CEASE-FIRE WITH ULFA ENDS
REF: CALCUTTA 0362
1. (U) Summary: Citing continuing violence and extortion, the
Government of India (GOI) on September 24 ended the six-week
ceasefire it had with the United Liberation Front of Asom
(ULFA). The GOI decision comes in the wake of ULFA's reluctance
to commit in writing to taking part in direct peace talks.
While the GOI indicates that it continues to pursue peace, it
will double its troop presence on the India-Bhutan border in an
effort to prevent ULFA terrorists from using Bhutan as a base of
operations. End Summary.
2. (U) The Union Home Ministry announced that the ceasefire was
officially called off on September 24, 2006. A day earlier a
tea estate manager in Assam was kidnapped and killed by ULFA.
News reports indicated that in recent months ULFA had been
threatening tea estate managers and businessmen in the state to
pay "taxes" to the group. In response to the killing, Indian
troops have killed at least 2 suspected ULFA members.
3. (SBU) The year-old peace initiative to bring the GOI and
ULFA to the negotiating table is another casualty of the GOI's
resumption of operations against ULFA. However, sources told
Post that ULFA was never seriously interested in peace, citing
the lack of ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua's personal
involvement in the process. The GOI's key demand that ULFA
agree in writing to peace negotiations was never met. For its
part, ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa repeatedly stated to the
media that talks with the Indian government without raising the
issues of sovereignty and freedom would not bear fruit. In
addition, the GOI continues to hold five ULFA prisoners, whose
release has been a long-standing ULFA demand.
3. (U) GOI concerns now include securing India's border with
neighboring Bhutan. The Bhutanese Army had destroyed a number
of ULFA base camps within it's borders in 2003. While GOI
officials do not believe that ULFA camps are operating out of
Bhutan at this time, one news report cited a pending doubling of
Indian troops to a total of 10,000 along India and Bhutan's
240-mile border. News reports also suggest that Maoists from
Nepal may be trying to sneak into Bhutan in support of a wider
campaign against the Indian Army.
4. (SBU) Comment: The tenuous cease-fire did not have the
complete support of Indian Army officials, who felt that Delhi
was too trusting of ULFA leadership. Recent events only lend
credence to the Army's view. While publicly taking a
wait-and-see approach, the Army's mounting preparations indicate
a pending large-scale operation and that it will respond to any
further ULFA attacks with force. End Comment.
JARDINE