[Assam] Violence Does Pay in India/ From ToI

[Ram Sarangapani]

C'da

>*** '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?

Well! has IT paid off in the ULFA case? ULFA's violence for the last 27
years has only brought agony for the people in the state, and not much else.

>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?

OK, even if the military treats "Indians" like animals (when they are
violently protesting) - but what has the ULFA example shown us, they have
been violent all along - what are the results C'da?

>**** ULFA was a RESULT of this uniquely Indian governmental trait: >Ignore
and stonewall people's concerns .........

You seem to have already established that in all these posts:)
OK - since IF THAT IS the case, why on earth do you insist on "negotiations"
with this Govt. Heck, in ULFA's case even the violence has NOT worked. What
gives?

Because, C'da - they and others are asking the impossible - ie. Independence
and separation.

If in your opinion, the GOI ignores mundane, simple things like "quota" and
other common needs, what on earth gives you the idea that they will go for
something as big as "independence"?

 *** 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.

C'da - I am plum outta of 'what and how' the ULFA has really benefitted the
people of Assam - do tell us, in fact we are all ears. If possible, maybe
you could also list the downsides.

There was a time, I thought that maybe, just maybe something positive may
actually come out of this whole thing - not now though. If there are things
happening in Assam, it is inspite of ULFA and its violence.

 >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 :-).

Well - you left 'my predictions' out. But that is exactly what these are.
And ULFA is not shaking in their boots - the only time they do that is when
the Indian Army is in hot on their heels.
In front of ordinary, unarmed people, they are really hot-shots :)

--Ram


On 6/2/07, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>  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?
>
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>
> *** '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
>
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>
> 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
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> On 6/2/07,* Chan Mahanta* <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
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> *NOW they are talking!*
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> Can there be a better examples for others to emulate?
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> cm
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> 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.
>
>
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