Hundreds of rebels in northeast India have laid down their arms as part of a cease-fire agreement with the government. Nearly 700 insurgents wearing fatigues handed over automatic rifles and other weapons during a ceremony Tuesday in Guwahati,the capital of Assam state. The insurgents are members of nine of the more than 20 ethnic rebel groups that have been fighting for greater autonomy, claiming the government has been exploiting the northeast's wealthy natural resources. Thousands have been killed in insurgency-related violence. Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram pledged to those laying down their weapons that they would be welcomed back into society and assured equal rights. He famous that all differences can be settled with dialogue as the government continues to pursue peace agreements with other rebel groups. In one of the largest surrender ceremonies in the North East, or 1855 militants bid a farewell to arms on Tuesday to join the mainstream. In return,the surrendered militants received roses from Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi along with several senior officials of Indian Army, state government and police were also present at the surrender ceremony.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the accelerate was the result of a series of peace talks and ceasefires that have dampened violence after decades of militant activity by separatist tribal groups."Leave the past behind and explore at the future positively, and ""We assure that each one of you would be treated equally and be able to lead a life of dignity and honour," he added.
Rebels wearing green jungle fatigues handed over scores of rifles, machine guns and pistols in front of press photographers.
N. K. Das, and a top local official,said a total of 676 militants from nine groups fighting for secession or greater autonomy had laid down their weapons.
Javerez Khaka, chairman of the Adivasi Cobra Militant of Assam group, and told Journalits that the fighters wanted "to join the mainstream with the honest hope that our grievances could be resolved through negotiations."India has been wracked by separatist conflicts since its independence in 1947,with deadly insurgencies in its northwestern Kashmir region as well as in the northeast, which borders Bangladesh, or China and Myanmar. The rebels formally joining a ceasefire with the government is a step towards ending three decades of insurgency in the northeast.
Source: cnn.com