Diphu (Karbi Anglong), December 16 (TNN): After bidding farewell to arms, the United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) has decided its next course of action will be participation in the democratic process through electoral politics and is planning to gear up for the upcoming Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) election in January next year.
The UPDS was formally disbanded after it signed a peace accord with the Centre and the state government and its cadres laid down their arms in an official ceremony here on Wednesday.
"We have said goodbye to arms. Now we will function as a political entity. All our efforts now will be focused on the upcoming council election in which we are going take active part," UPDS chairman Longsodar Senar said.
Senar said the People's Alliance for Peace Agreement (PAPA), which played a proactive role in the run-up to the signing of the tripartite peace agreement in November this year, will be the platform from which they will contest the election.
PAPA leader Dharam Sing Teron said UPDS leaders and his organization would meet here on Friday to chart out the next course of action in view of the council election.
Teron said he was hopeful UPDS's transition from an armed outfit to a political entity would be a smooth one as the people of Karbi Anglong district are already supportive of the peace accord.
He added they would also discuss whether they would give shape to a new political party with UPDS leaders. "We welcome them (UPDS leaders) in joining the mainstream. Now they will exercise their democratic right by participating in the council election. There is already a surge of support for the signing of the accord. So, UPDS's transition to electoral politics will be smooth one," Teron said.
Even though their original cause of achieving the separate state of Hemprak Kangthim (Karbi homeland) remains unfulfilled, UPDS leaders said their new task would be to help usher in peace and development in the district, which has long suffered due to violence.
"As the Centre has no policy to create any new state, I think the peace accord is the best settlement we could have got. Now, our primary task is to work for peace and development of Karbi Anglong through democratic means. After the accord, the council will have 39 additional powers," UPDS joint secretary for home affairs Surya Rongfar said.
About 568 cadres and leaders of the UPDS laid down arms in the presence of Assam police DGP Shankar Barua, GOC 4 Corps, Lt Gen Shakti Gurung, additional DGP, Khagen Sharma, GOC 21 Mountain Division of the army Maj Gen R N Nair and many other officials from state police and security agencies on Wednesday.
A total of 177 arms, including AK series rifles, M-16 rifles, 40mm UBGLs and SLRs were handed over to the police along with ammunition.
ASDC president Chomang Kro has criticized election notification giving barely one week for campaigning which is against the law of natural justice. He, howerver, welcomed the declaration.
The UPDS was formally disbanded after it signed a peace accord with the Centre and the state government and its cadres laid down their arms in an official ceremony here on Wednesday.
"We have said goodbye to arms. Now we will function as a political entity. All our efforts now will be focused on the upcoming council election in which we are going take active part," UPDS chairman Longsodar Senar said.
Senar said the People's Alliance for Peace Agreement (PAPA), which played a proactive role in the run-up to the signing of the tripartite peace agreement in November this year, will be the platform from which they will contest the election.
PAPA leader Dharam Sing Teron said UPDS leaders and his organization would meet here on Friday to chart out the next course of action in view of the council election.
Teron said he was hopeful UPDS's transition from an armed outfit to a political entity would be a smooth one as the people of Karbi Anglong district are already supportive of the peace accord.
He added they would also discuss whether they would give shape to a new political party with UPDS leaders. "We welcome them (UPDS leaders) in joining the mainstream. Now they will exercise their democratic right by participating in the council election. There is already a surge of support for the signing of the accord. So, UPDS's transition to electoral politics will be smooth one," Teron said.
Even though their original cause of achieving the separate state of Hemprak Kangthim (Karbi homeland) remains unfulfilled, UPDS leaders said their new task would be to help usher in peace and development in the district, which has long suffered due to violence.
"As the Centre has no policy to create any new state, I think the peace accord is the best settlement we could have got. Now, our primary task is to work for peace and development of Karbi Anglong through democratic means. After the accord, the council will have 39 additional powers," UPDS joint secretary for home affairs Surya Rongfar said.
About 568 cadres and leaders of the UPDS laid down arms in the presence of Assam police DGP Shankar Barua, GOC 4 Corps, Lt Gen Shakti Gurung, additional DGP, Khagen Sharma, GOC 21 Mountain Division of the army Maj Gen R N Nair and many other officials from state police and security agencies on Wednesday.
A total of 177 arms, including AK series rifles, M-16 rifles, 40mm UBGLs and SLRs were handed over to the police along with ammunition.
ASDC president Chomang Kro has criticized election notification giving barely one week for campaigning which is against the law of natural justice. He, howerver, welcomed the declaration.
