[Assam] Revealed: Assam kids plant bombs for Rs 100

Wed Oct 18 16:12:46 PDT 2006

C'da,

>The point is about the continuation of the conflict spanning over two
decades, getting worse  over time. And as the >asymmetry widens, so does the
desperation and its resultant by-products.

So, as insurgents get desperate, children are at stake. When can we expect a
Beslan?

 >Will you have the courage to face the victims of the 'secret killings' of
Assam to suggest that their loss is not nearly >as bad as, say the children
of Dhakuakhana, since the former was perpetrated by unknown evil people,
while the >latter was, to be reasonably suspected to be by ULFA?

All murders are bad, C'da. To the victims of secret killings or even the
families of ulfa cadres the loss of their loved ones is terrible. Nothing
that you or me or the GOI or the ULFA can make it right.

But as a society, we specially have a much softer corner for children. And
when their innocence is used for ulfa's or the GOI's advantage, it doesn't
speak well of the perpetrators.

 >Or can you, with a straight face argue, that the millions of children of
India scouring garbage piles left by the Great Indian Middle Class'
>consumption , for the struggle to survive and dying untimely deaths,
homeless, hungry, bereft of the most rudimentary of the necessities of life,
is >somehow not nearly as grotesque as children used to plant bombs by
insurgent groups?

Whats your point C'da? Yes, millions of children everywhere in the world are
exploited - even in the US. This is a societal problem. But just because the
society is derelict or hasn't been able to provide the best for our
children, it certainly does not mean insurgent elements take that as a cue
to send children into harms way?

>The outrage is SELECTIVE and CONVENIENT, designed to make political points

It may seem so. But the reality is that it does hurt when children are used
in this way. There are no excuses here. If the GOI were to send India's
children to fight its wars with Pakistan or fight insurgencies, my
indignation would have been similar or more.

--Ram

On 10/18/06, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>  Ram:
>
>
> The point is about the continuation of the conflict spanning over two
> decades, getting worse  over time. And as the asymmetry widens, so does the
> desperation and its resultant by-products.
>
>
> Do GoI's honchos huddle in the backrooms of the palace to connive to let
> loose the army , armed with AFSPA  and other such devices, on the Assamese,
> or Kashmiris or the myriads of groups across India?
>
>
> One would have to say, NO. It does not happen that way.
>
>
> *But the NET EFFECT is the same, isn't it?*
>
>
> Does it matter to its ultimate victims whether it is an outcome out of
> connivance of a few evil people, or universal exploitation or benign apathy?
>
>
> Will you have the courage to face the victims of the 'secret killings' of
> Assam to suggest that their loss is not nearly as bad as, say the children
> of Dhakuakhana, since the former was perpetrated by unknown evil people,
> while the latter was, to be reasonably suspected to be by ULFA?
>
>
> Or can you, with a straight face argue, that the millions of children of
> India scouring garbage piles left by the Great Indian Middle Class'
> consumption , for the struggle to survive and dying untimely deaths,
> homeless, hungry, bereft of the most rudimentary of the necessities of life,
> is somehow not nearly as grotesque as children used to plant bombs by
> insurgent groups?
>
>
> Or maimed and deformed children begging on the streets of great Indian
> cities, plucking their scabs to bleed a little more, to compete with those
> others whose wounds are not nearly as bad; are nothing  compared to ULFA or
> Kashmir militants
> or tribal-Naxals exploiting their children to smuggle explosives to
> destroy the lives and life-styles of other INNOCENT Indians?
>
>
> Give me a break Ram.
>
>
> The outrage is SELECTIVE and CONVENIENT, designed to make political points
> and
> augment the propaganda of the Indian establishment, to whom it is more
> important to hold on to the real-estate, of Assam, of Kashmir, and damn
> those who occupy the ground!
>
>
>
> c-da
>
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> At 10:34 AM -0500 10/18/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
> C'da,
>
>
>
> >See, the Great Indian Middle Class, is soooo very kind to the children of
> its under->classes, it must hurt their sensitivities to see these ULFA
> rogues use children to do their >dirty work!
>
>
>
> This is what one would call 'spinning out of control' :)
>
>
>
> Yes, mal-treatment to children by any class of people is bad. But this
> mal-treatment is not an organized effort by the GOI or some state or even a
> group of people. What you are referring to is a social problem, and NOT a
> connived effort by groups of people trying to harm children.
>
>
>
> In the case of the ULFA is pure and simple - they want to save their own
> hides and send children to fight men's wars. These obviously are really
> brave men - put women & children first. Remember Bhutan - they abandoned
> women & children and took off. That is the backbone of the organization.
>
>
>
> Well - they may have an excuse - the whole world mistreats children - from
> Africa, Latin Americas to Asia (specially India) - so why shouldn't they
> take this a step further - let children do the dirty work and die if
> necessary?
>
>
>
> --Ram
>
>
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>
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> On 10/18/06,* Chan Mahanta* <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
> No doubt Ram. You are right.
>
>
>
>
> See, the Great Indian Middle Class, is soooo very kind to the children of
> its under-classes, it must hurt their sensitivities to see these ULFA rogues
> use children to do their dirty work!
>
>
>
>
> So, Ram, I can appreciate your, Neep's and all others' outpourings of
> revulsion with something like this, and your disgust with those who see only
> GoI's insincerity and its supporters' hypocrisies.
>
>
>
>
> But somehow Ram, this 'odhom' doesn't quite buy it.
>
>
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>
> c-da :-)
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> At 10:01 AM -0500 10/18/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
> C'da,
>
>
>
> This one you cannot spin. That ulfa is willing to put children on the
> frontlines (instead of risking their own sweet hides) speaks volumes of
> their world view.
>
>
> Even if their cause was worthwhile, and the GOI and others are the ones
> that forced them to become insurgents, it still doesn't compute.
>
> This organization who claim to be the one looking after Assam's interests,
> is all so willing to goad children into doing the dirty work and bear all
> the risks.
>
> This is a new low, however you cut it.
>
>
>
> --Ram
>
>
>
> On 10/18/06,* Chan Mahanta* <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
> If the recent history of such conflicts worldwide is any guide, it could
> be expected to hit even lower, as the stalemate progresses and the asymmetry
> of the conflict increases.
>
>
>
>
> What is confounding is the smugness with which the party that holds all
> the cards would not do its share to find a negotiated solution, while waving
> its oh-so-pious wishes to the world.
>
>
>
>
> Be it in Assam, be it in Nagaland, be it in Kashmir, be it in Sri Lanka.
>
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> Hypocrisy obviously has no bounds.
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> At 8:41 AM -0500 10/18/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
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> This is a new low.
>
>   On 10/18/06,* Neep Hazarika* <neep_hazarika at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/oct/18asom.htm
>
>
>
> ---
> Neep Hazarika
>
>
>
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