[Assam] Violence Does Pay in India/ From ToI

Sat Jun 2 10:16:08 EDT 2007

At 7:43 AM -0600 6/2/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>  >Can there be a better examples for others to emulate?
>
>Yes, C'da.. sometimes it seems it does, doesn't it?

*** 'Sometimes' Ram?  Would you like me to rattle off the number of 
times  the Indian military and the police have been shooting other 
Indians down like animals just in the past month?

And why do you think these Indians have been taking to the streets, 
knowing full well that they just in might be shot down by their own 
-- in Gandhi's India?

Take a WILD guess and tell us. I will refrain from planting any ideas 
in your mind, since that will be poison. So why don't YOU tell us, in 
your own words, from your own informed analyses ?

**** ULFA was a RESULT of this uniquely Indian governmental trait: 
Ignore and stonewall people's concerns and as the disaffections grow 
into 'bondhos'  and on to 'andwlons', shoot them down like animals ( 
too many to round up and give them a trial, decide guilt and 
punish--like a democratic state is beholden to do) . Since Indian 
life is cheap, better to get rid of a few by killing them.  Helps 
stem the population growth. That much better if they are mere slant 
eyed 'gooks', or 'tribals', ad nauseum ( just provide a nice label to 
devalue their humanity). And when it leads to insurgencies and fights 
for freedom, much easier to deal with: Now the military could be let 
loose, armed with  AFSPA etc.,  on grounds of national security. How 
bow better to keep those millions employed?

Is the trend hard to spot?

*** Tell me Ram, with a straight face, that the ULFA movement did NOT 
bring any good to Assam!
And I will show you a thing or two :-)! We will be all ears.

>And remember, C'da (you heard it here first) :) - IMHO this window 
>for negotiations is closing in really >fast.

***  I am sure ULFA is shaking in its boots at your warning Ram :-).

c-da

>
>But, look at the ULFA. They have been violent for the last .. what 27 years?
>
>What has it got them or what has it got its victims? What has Assam 
>got in return?
>
>Without talking about the victims (not diminishing their plight 
>here), thanks to the ULFA, Assam today is known for
>ULFA, Viollence, bandhs etc first.
>
>The state (right or wrong) has to constantly fight this image off to 
>others and look for ways to tell people its "safe" to visit and 
>invest in Assam.
>A spate of bombings in Guwahati, killing innocent people has managed 
>to keep the local people in fear, but "kill" any immediate chance 
>for investments in the state.  That is great going for ULFA , which 
>of course, has Assam intesests in its heart!
>
>And so, the ULFA example is probably the worst example for any group 
>to emulate.
>Why? Because, even in India, with all the corruption, the political 
>mileage that the powers to be may get, what they cannot give up or 
>give in to is something that is "the Impossible".
>
>So, in the ULFA case, the impossible is the word sovereignty.
>Take that OFF the table, then maybe even the ULFA violence may still 
>have some positive results. But keep that word in and don't budge, 
>India or any political administration in India will never be able to 
>give in.
>
>And remember, C'da (you heard it here first) :) - IMHO this window 
>for negotiations is closing in really fast. India is a country with 
>huge resources, and often with a lot of patience.  The tide seems to 
>have turned in Assam, it won't be long for New Delhi to see an 
>opening.
>
>--Ram
>
>
>
>
>
>
>On 6/2/07, Chan Mahanta 
><<mailto:cmahanta at charter.net>cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>NOW they are talking!
>
>
>Can there be a better examples for others to emulate?
>
>
>cm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Raje, Gujjars hold fourth round of talks
>2 Jun, 2007 l 1727 hrs ISTlIANS
>
>   Print
>  Save
>  EMail
>  Write to Editor
>JAIPUR: Amid comparative calm in Rajasthan after four days, Chief 
>Minister Vasundhara Raje and Gujjar leaders met on Saturday 
>afternoon for the fourth round of talks over the latter's demand for 
>tribal status that has sparked widespread violence.
>
>At the talks, held at the chief ministers' residence, Vasundhara 
>Raje led the government team of ministers and officials while the 
>Gujjar community was represented by over 10 leaders.
>
>Talks started on a positive note, said official sources, adding that 
>there was a hope of ending the crisis soon.
>
>As all eyes were fixed on the outcome of the talks, Rajasthan 
>remained calm except for reports of burning of a police post in Tonk 
>district.
>
>The trouble started Tuesday when a road blockade announced by the 
>Gujjars to press for their demand for Scheduled Tribe status took a 
>violent turn during which 14 people were killed in clashes between 
>agitators and police.
>
>"No major incidence of violence was reported from any part of the 
>state since Friday evening, after four days of trouble in which some 
>25 people were killed in police firing and group clashes," a senior 
>police official said.
>
>"We are hopeful of a positive outcome from the final round of talks 
>with the chief minister," Gujjar leader Roop Singh said before going 
>for parleys.
>
>"This would be the final round of talks. If nothing comes out of 
>this, the consequences will be the sole responsibility of the 
>government," he added.
>
>The previous round of talks on Friday night between the government 
>and the representatives of the Gujjar Sangharsh Committee, the body 
>spearheading the community's campaign, ended inconclusively.
>
>An ugly caste conflict looms large in Rajasthan with Gujjars and 
>Meenas clashing over the quota pie given to Scheduled Tribes. The 
>Meena community is the dominant Scheduled Tribe community in the 
>state.
>
>On Friday, five people were killed and 20 injured in clashes between 
>the two groups in Rajasthan's Dausa and Karauli districts, taking 
>the death toll to 25 since the Gujjar fury erupted May 29, officials 
>said.
>
>The trouble started Friday when the Meenas tried to remove 
>roadblocks put up by the Gujjars in Dausa. Intervention by the 
>police and army averted further clashes between the two communities.
>
>The Gujjar movement demanding tribal status, which they feel will 
>improve their economic status, has paralysed rail and road traffic 
>in many parts of Rajasthan.
>
>Thousands have been stranded at railway stations and bus depots as 
>the Gujjars continue to block highways leading to Agra, New Delhi 
>and Madhya Pradesh.
>
>But the government said the Jaipur-Delhi highway had been cleared 
>but people are not willing to take the highway. The railways plan to 
>run a few trains on the Bharatpur and Jaipur sectors on Saturday.
>
>The Rajasthan administration has also decided to evacuate over 5,000 
>pilgrims stranded in Mehendipur, on the Jaipur-Agra highway, with 
>the help of the Army.
>
>"We are taking steps to clear the traffic jams on various highways. 
>We have also started running some buses on the Jaipur-Delhi route," 
>Rajasthan Transport Minister Younis Khan said.
>
>_______________________________________________
>assam mailing list
><mailto:assam at assamnet.org>assam at assamnet.org
><http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> 
>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://assamnet.org/pipermail/assam_assamnet.org/attachments/20070602/3f3e548a/attachment.html 