Jatioya Abhibartan- the joint national convention.

Jatioya Abhibartan- the joint national convention.

By Pankaj Bora

Introduction:

“Jatioya Abhibartan” which was also known as joint national convention was a convention for bringing peace in Assam. The convention was organized in Pragjyoti ITA complex of Machkhowa on 24^th of April by prominent citizen of Assam. The convention was chaired by Dr. Hiren Gohain. It was a convention by several prominent citizen of Assam. It was step towards peace in Assam. The aim of the convention was to generate public opinion. Total 93 organizations including student body, political party took part in that convention. Intellectuals like Hiren Gohain, Dr.Mamoni Raisom Goswami were the participant of it. The main objective o f the convention was to open up roads towards peace building for the region. The convention was not against government or against ULFA. It was also not against PCG. It just wanted to suggest both the parties ULFA and government some positive steps towards peace by collecting public opinion.

Decision:

A peaceful Assam is the goal of the joint national convention. Therefore it called the government and ULFA to come forward for a positive negotiation without any precondition and delay. It demanded the government to release the jailed ULFA leaders so that they can talk to central body of ULFA for peace talk with government. It also said that no legal procedure impose on these leaders until a settlement comes out.

The convention formed a Steering committee for peace process. The committee composed of members like Dr. Hiren Gohain, Dr. Nirmal Kumar Chaudhary, Dr. Mamoni Raisom Goswami, Hiranya Kumar Bhattacharya etc. and Dilip Ptgiri and Lachit Bordoloi will work as the secretary of the steering committee. This committee will collect public opinion and will finalize a resolution of the convention. It will also see the issues like economic development, flood problem, rights of the indigenous people etc.

An observation:

No doubt the convention was a positive step towards peace building to the semi conflict zone. It will definitely try to highlight the aspiration of the people of Assam and as a civil society will also open new roads to peace to the state. So we could hope for a successful outcome of the convention.

But though it has some positive characteristics, we can’t ignore its limitations like:

1. Neither the government nor the ULFA had participated at the convention. So we can’t hope that it will fruitful.

2. The convention is not supported by Paresh Barua. The convention suggests a talk without any precondition. But to Paresh Barua without sovereignty there will not be any discussion.

3. The position of government is also not clear. Until the take some initiative it has no meaning.

4. The split in PCG regarding the convention is also a limitation or failure of the convention. The convention should not leave PCG towards peace building.

So these are the major limitation to the joint national convention. The convention has these limitations but if it starts working efficiently than we can see a peaceful future of Assam in near future.