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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Peace drive with force rider

Peace drive with force rider

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published Published on Jul 8, 2011   modified Modified on Jul 8, 2011

-The Telegraph

 

The Mamata Banerjee government has kickstarted a process to hold talks with Maoists without mentioning conditions but acknowledged the responsibilities of governance by adding that central forces will remain until Jungle Mahal is cleansed of arms.

The initiative also sought to address a fundamental issue often overlooked by the security and political establishments: the chief minister gave an assurance that the villagers will retain the right to forest resources so that the sources of their livelihood are not disrupted.

Six human rights activists have been picked by the chief minister to hold talks with the Maoists, though an official statement did not directly refer to the rebels. The team, led by Sujato Bhadra and Debashish Bhattacharya, will have Kalyan Rudra, Ashokendu Sengupta, Chhoton Das and Prasun Bhowmik as the other members.

“These people have been authorised to talk with the Maoists. It is important to restore peace in the area. The government is committed to implementing its development package for the people of Jungle Mahal,” Mamata said.

At the same time, she made it clear that the central forces would be withdrawn from Jungle Mahal only after all arms were surrendered and peace restored in the area.

She suggested that this would include weapons held by CPM cadres. “After Jungle Mahal is made free of arms and peace is restored, the central forces will be withdrawn…. All sides should surrender their arms,” Mamata said.

However, the government has not set any deadline for the surrender of arms. “As early as possible,” Mamata said, asked about the deadline.

A Maoist leader later said the rebels would have to “very carefully” weigh the talks offer. “We will have to discuss the matter in our central committee and then come up with our own set of proposals for the talks,” the leader said. “After all, we have consolidated our position in some parts of the state and we may not want to give up our movement.”

The statement released by the government did not refer to any conditions. The erstwhile Left government, like the UPA at the Centre, had insisted that the Maoists must shun violence before any talks could begin.

Last year, Delhi had set the condition of a violence-free 72 hours from both sides to lay the ground for talks. Sources in the Union home ministry today clarified that such an offer no longer stood but pointed out that minister P. Chidambaram had yesterday said the state government should be allowed to take its own decisions.

The Bengal statement circulated at the end of a meeting that stretched beyond three hours was signed by the state home secretary and the human rights activists. The meeting, presided over by Mamata, was attended by state higher and school education minister Bratya Basu, chief secretary Samar Ghosh, home secretary G.D. Gautama, DGP Naparajit Mukherjee and additional commissioner of Calcutta police Sivaji Ghosh, besides the six activists.

The statement read: “The government has always been ready for talks for the sake of a peaceful solution to Jungle Mahal’s problems. The government is now requesting (the team of activists) to take an initiative….”

The talks with the Maoists are among some of the most complex issues the new government will have to address. Mamata has already taken up the return of the Singur land, the financial mess, the Darjeeling problem and the need for industry.

Today’s road map for the talks also suggests Mamata has taken into account the compulsions that accompany governance. While in Opposition, Mamata had expressed reservations about the presence of the central forces but has steered clear of the issue after coming to power.

Today, she articulated the government’s stand, broad-basing it to cover not just Jungle Mahal but the entire state. “In Jungle Mahal and the rest of the state, all sides will have to lay down their arms. The government will take all legal steps to recover arms. Those who are willing to surrender their arms will be rehabilitated and a special economic package will be offered to them. The government will not take a vindictive stand,” according to the statement.

Five of the 35 companies of central forces in Jungle Mahal were withdrawn today. But it was done at the behest of Delhi to divert the personnel to Andhra Pradesh in view of the Telangana agitation.

A committee set up for releasing political prisoners has been asked to expedite the process as many people in Jungle Mahal have also been put behind bars. As a goodwill gesture, the government has decided to identify and release 46 political prisoners.

The chief minister will visit Jungle Mahal soon, along with the civil society members empowered to hold talks with the Maoists.

“The previous government did not listen to us. The new government is working in the right direction. If everybody co-operates, it will be possible to bring peace and development to the area,” Bhadra said.

The Telegraph, 8 July, 2011, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110708/jsp/frontpage/story_14212254.jsp


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