BODO ACCORD

S. K. Kaul

                          After the 1986 Mizo Accord at least five major peace agreements have been clinched with insurgent groups. NDA(2) deserves appreciation for solving problems created by various militant groups in various parts of North Western States. Recently in Nagaland, the 22-year-long dialogue between the NSCN (1-N) and the Centre finally concluded in Nov, 2019 and now the Naga outfits will have to surrender their arms. The 23-year-long ordeal of Bru-Reang tribals of Mizoram who were forced to live as refugees and take shelter in adjoining Tripura state see hope on the horizon to begin life afresh in Tripura On 27th January, 2020 Bodo agreement was signed – in the presence of Central home minister Amit Shah, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma – including Bodo Territorial council (BTC) Chief executive member Hagrama Mohilary, representatives of All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), United Boro Peoples Organisation (UBPO), and leaders of UDFB factions headed by Gobinda Basumatary, Dhirendra Basumatary, Dhirendra Boro, Ranjab Dalmary and B.Saoraigwara to end 34-year armed struggle for a separate Bodo land state. In 2005, the erstwhile UPA government had expressed its willingness to discuss all issues raised by Ulfa. “While that didn’t translate into peace talks, the NDA government is committed to make a dialogue happen,” Assam finance minister Himanta Sarma said.
A tripartite accord was signed on Monday, the 27th January, 2020 between the Centre, Assam government and Bodo representatives, including all factions of National Democratic Front of Boda land that had waged violent struggle against Assam’s territorial integrity. Terming the Bodo agreement a historical chapter for peace, development and unity in Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, the 29th January, 2020 said “the accord sent a clear message that non-violence and adherence to democracy and the Constitution could help resolve issues.”

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According to Prabia Architect of Bodo Accord, the main architect to end Bodo community’s 34-year insurrection was Raj Kumar Prithviraj Narayan Dev Mech, the 19th descendant of King Chikra Mech. He was assisted by Thulunga Basumatary, a graduate from IIT-Madras. They visited Myanmar to rope in the anti-talks National Democratic Front of Bodoland (S), NDFB(S) functionaries based there but also drafted the pact that was adopted almost in its entirety by all the stakeholders in the peace process.
All of this was accomplished by Prithviraj and his friend who also got the clearance from the Union home ministry. Thereafter “we flew to Bangkok and from there to Mandalay on December 9, 2019. From Mandalay, we travelled three hours by road to NDFB(S) hideout, had discussions with the functionaries and convinced them to join the mainstream. On December 10, we travelled westwards and entered India through the Moreh border in Manipar the nexrt day,” Prithviraj said.
“What helped them to convince the ministry of their ability to join a long arduous peace process with multiple pitfalls and failure was their work in securing land and forest rights for tribal people through their NGO, the North East Heritage Foundation. Prithviraj is its director and Tulunga is its executive director.
“We first submitted the draft memorandum of settlement on behalf of the NDFB(S) to the government. They were willing to negotiate,” said Thulunga. He further said that “For a decade, long peace process spanning two previous accords with selective groups, this one took around six months once the duo came on board. We wanted to keep it transparent from the start. The turning point was when we met the families of NDFB(S) leaders. We gained their trust. We were able to convince those in Myanmar that the Bodo people aspired to a society without guns.”
Laying Down of Arms
Three days after signing of the Bodo accord, 1615 cadres from all four factions of NDFB laid down arms in front of Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal at a ceremony at Guwahati. Over 4,500 weapons, including AK rifles, light machine guns and sten guns were laid down by the cadres, PTI reported.
What the Bodoes Get?
(i) The Bodoland Territorial Area District will be known as Bodoland Territorial Region; (ii) A Rs.5-lakh compensation is being offered to the kin of Bodo rebels killed in their violent struggle; (iii) The surrendered cadres too will get a rehabilitation package; (iv) cases against NDFB cadres involving non-heinous crimes will be withdrawn by Assam Government, while more serious offences will be reviewed on case to case basis; (v) The total number of assembly seats in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) will go up to 60 from 40 to be effective only from 2026 assembly polls; (vi) A Rs.1,500-crore package shall be introduced over the next three years for Bodo areas with the Centre and Assam Government contributing equal measure; (vii) A national sports university; (viii) Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres at Udalguri, Baksa and Chirang;; (ix) A central university named after Upendra Nath Brahma, former president of All Bodo Students Union ; (x) A railway coach factory. A cancer hospital and medical college at Tamulpur; (xi) A veterinary college at Kumarikata; (xii) A central university and RIIMS; (xiii) Institutes of livelihood management and hotel management; (xiv) A regional campus of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University; (xv) A Bodo Memorial museum; (xvi) A National Institute of Technology campus at Udalguri; (xvii) Bodoland Institute of Rural Development; (xviii) Vocational training institute; (xix) Organic university at Rausta; (xx) paramedical institute; (xxi) provincialisation of music and fine arts colleges; (xxii) Birsa Munda cultural centre; (xxiii) Swami Vivekananda Youth Centre; (xxiv) Gorkha memorial; (xxv) Bhupen Hazarika memorial multi-utility auditorium, (xxvi) A Mother’s Dairy Plant; (xxvii) Centre to expedite the process of granting ST Hills status to Bodos living in the hill areas.
On the whole, the new Bodo Accord has many first and it can well be taken as a peace template as and when the government pushes its peace efforts in state like Manipur, for instance, where, two, there is a strong civil society presence which could well assist efforts of ending militancy.

 

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