[Assam] AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF ASSAM
Ram Sarangapani
assamrs at gmail.com
Tue Aug 14 21:27:26 PDT 2007
C'da,
I think I will respond to this post. It kinda explains what exactly you
meant. Moreover, I am having a difficulty in keeping track of who said what,
and all the cut & paste:)
So here goes,
>I will stop at this post.
I agree, we seem to be rehashing everything:)
>Assam journalists have been crying endlessly about a number of
>issues, like ULFA, B'deshis, corruption and the like.
Well, that is obviously what they seem to be interested in.
>However they have utterly failed in their journalistic duties in
investigating, >analyzing and educating the public about the causes of these
problems
Who sets these standards of journalism? If they followed your advice and
found the GOI/GOA the main reason for all the violence, would that make it
better?
>Nor have they offered any achievable and sustainable
>solutions to what they cry about, that I am aware of.
Actually, I have read numerous times the Sentinel/AT calling for peace talks
etc. Now, whether they are deemed achievable or sustainable is really in the
eye of the beholder.
I really don't see anybody being able to convince anyone. Basically, no one
sees eye to eye.
>Nor does symbolic flag-waving, appeals to the people and so forth. All that
does is >promote or publicize their own piety, something that does not in
any way help
>Assam in its woes.
True, but who has been doing this? I can guess, but then, I would have to
come up with proof - which I can't pin down at the moment:)
--Ram
__________________
On 8/14/07, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
> Just so this discussion does not relapse into the same old repetition
> of your or my positions, I will stop at this post.
>
> The point is not about MY views or Thakuria's or DN Bezbaruah's.
> Assam journalists have been crying endlessly about a number of
> issues, like ULFA, B'deshis, corruption and the like. However they
> have utterly failed in their journalistic duties in investigating,
> analyzing and educating the public about the causes of these problems
> or how they can be resolved and how the people can become a part of
> the solution . Nor have they offered any achievable and sustainable
> solutions to what they cry about, that I am aware of. Wishful
> thinking, or calling names, or sermonizing and lecturing those they
> disagree with do not qualify as such. Nor does symbolic flag-waving,
> appeals to the people and so forth. All that does is promote or
> publicize their own piety, something that does not in any way help
> Assam in its woes. As responsible and effective journalists, a key
> element of a functioning democracy ( unlike desi-demokrasy that is),
> they owe it to their readers, to seek out those who have the ability
> to offer such achievable solutions and air them, if they cannot offer
> them themselves. The least they can do.
>
> That in essence was what I wrote to Thakuria. If you believe that was
> a bad or destructive set of suggestions, you ought to point out that
> , explaining why. Or if you have better ideas you ought to present
> those. That will be meaningful. But to go on as you have, with absurd
> demands and assertions
>
> >like "---During last couple of elections Assam has witnessed at
> >least 65% or more vote casting. This essentially
> >means that at least 65% of Assam's people believe in
> Indian Constitution. What other verdict you want ??
>
> merely underscores your clueless disposition. And if you are
> wondering why it is clueless, try reconciling that with yours and
> Assam journalists' laments about the B'deshi immigration issue and
> why the voters don't care about it as proven by their election and
> re-election of those who would not even acknowledge it as a problem,
> much less do anything about it. And when you do, enlighten us about
> it.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 1:04 PM -0700 8/14/07, Krishnendu Chakraborty wrote:
> >--- Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
> >
> >> > >I understand. However it looks more like ULFA
> >> is in
> >> >armed conflict against people of Assam rather then
> >> India.
> >>
> >>
> >> *** That is because you consider those who do not
> >> subscribe to ULFA's
> >> views are the true representatives of Assam. That
> >> maybe so. But why
> >> don't those who sport that halo, hold a referendum
> >> and decide, once
> >> and for all, who the true reps. of Assam are? ULFA
> >> has publicly
> >> agreed to accept the verdict of the people.
> >
> >During last couple of elections Assam has witnessed at
> >least 65% or more vote casting. This essentially
> >means that at least 65% of Assam's people believe in
> >Indian Constitution. What other verdict you want ??
> >
> >
> >>
> >> That would be a way to bring the conflict to an end.
> >>
> >>
> >> >And BTW, if you are guarding ULFA on pretext of
> >> war, why not apply
> >> >the same yardstick when it >comes to GOI???
> >>
> >> *** I don't have any obligations to GoI. My
> >> obligations are to the
> >> people of Assam, their rights and their well-being.
> >
> >Hmmm.... and what well being do you see in kiiling
> >the children of Dhemaji or school teacher or numerous
> >other Assamese (I am excluding Biharis here) who have
> >been killed. What well being do you see in dictating
> >people Not to host Indian Flag.
> >
> >
> >> I also do not
> >> come from the ranks of those the who laughably sport
> >> the halo of
> >> being 'fair and-blanced' :-).
> >>
> >
> >We never thought you to be "fair and balanced" :)
> >
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> >Whether they will publish this debate or not is
> >> something which they
> >> >can answer.
> >>
> >> *** I did not ask you to speak for them. Just your
> > > opinion of whether
> >> they should is what I was hoping to hear.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> > So is it that only those journalists who favor
> >> your view are true journalist?
> >>
> >> *** Is that something I said or implied? Or is that
> >> 'damned English
> >> language' problem again :-)?
> >
> >Then why come down so heavily on Nava Thakuria, DN
> >Bezbarua et al.
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> > >Even if the Assam Press initiates a debate do
> > > you guarantee that
> >> >your cohorts will not threaten those
> >> >who debates for Assam being a part of India ?
> >>
> >>
> >> *** If your cohorts do, or you do, I will surely
> >> attempt to get the
> >> approval of mine. But ULFA has publicly said, many
> >> times, that they
> >> would accept the verdict of a referendum. The need
> >> for a debate prior
> >> to such a referendum is implicit.
> >
> >Well, you should definitely try to get approval of
> >your "cohorts" who threatened a couple of journalists
> >just a few weeks back ......
> >
> >I do not think my "cohorts" ever threatened any one.
> >
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> >send a letter to your local newspaper explaining
> >> Why St Louis should
> >> >be Free from USA and that you >will support a war
> >> against USA if it
> >> >is not freed.....
> >>
> >> *** That would be a very dumb thing to do, and the
> >> analogy could not
> >> be more absurd. St. Louis is not demanding to be
> >> free of the USA,
> >
> >Assam is not demanding to be free of India... it is CM
> >and ULFA who is demanding it.
> >On a similar analogy, CM can surely demand St Louis to
> >be free from US .
> >
> >> much less waging a quarter century old insurgency.
> >> But if it does
> >> been, I will certainly comply with your request.
> >>
> >
> >All insurgency start at some point by some people. So
> >you can surely start one (or attempt to start one) now
> >and see how your funtional democracy and press reacts.
> > This will also give us an opportunity to learn how
> >GOI should have tackled ULFA when it first started
> >this insurgency.
> >
> >
> >
> >>
> >> >Actually ..... not a single case of success ....
> >> not much of
> >> >accomplishment :)
> >>
> >> *** You sure know how to hurt a guy.
> >
> >Taking it as a complement :)
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> >Same on the other side is true ... particulrly when
> >> you try avoiding
> >> >difficult question
> >>
> >> *** I think you are toiling under an Oxomiya bhaxa
> >> problem too :-).
> >> Avoiding difficult questions, evasiveness, is not
> >> analogous to
> >> refusing to admit what stares one in the face.
> >>
> >
> >Uh .... I do not have any Oxomiya Bhaxa problem. Why
> >I equated it is because by avoiding such unpleasant
> >questions you do just the same --- "refuse to admit
> >what stares one in the face"
> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> At 11:46 AM -0700 8/14/07, Krishnendu Chakraborty
> >> wrote:
> >> > > *** ULFA is in an armed conflict with India. It
> >> is a
> >> >> war . In wars
> >> >> such fundamental rights as speech or freedom of
> >> >> expression are some
> >> >> of the most early and consistent victims, across
> >> the
> >> >> world.
> >> >
> >> >I understand. However it looks more like ULFA is
> >> in
> >> >armed conflict against people of Assam rather then
> >> >India.
> >> >
> >> >And BTW, if you are guarding ULFA on pretext of
> >> war,
> >> >why not apply the same yardstick when it comes to
> >> >GOI???
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >*** Now can you tell us why the press in Assam
> >> would
> >> >> not allow an
> >> >> informed, unfettered
> >> >> discussion/debate about why Assam ought to be
> >> free
> >> >> or NOT ? Would
> >> >> they publish the debate we had in this forum?
> >> >
> >> >Whether they will publish this debate or not is
> >> >something which they can answer. However, a
> >> couple
> >> >of years back a similar debate from AssamNet was
> >> >published in Assam Tribune, if I remember correct.
> >> >
> >> >Have you tried sending an article /letter to Assam
> >> >Press?
> >> >There have been many instances when you have cited
> >> >articles from Assam/Indian press in support of your
> >> >view. So is it that only those journalists who
> >> favor
> >> >your view are true journalist?
> >> >Even if the Assam Press initiates a debate do you
> >> >guarantee that your cohorts will not threaten those
> >> >who debates for Assam being a part of India ?
> >> >
> >> >Now let us turn to your ideal and functioning
> >> democary
> >> >..... Try this ....
> >> >send a letter to your local newspaper explaining
> >> Why
> > > >St Louis should be Free from USA and that you will
> >> >support a war against USA if it is not freed.....
> >> if
> >> >you need to find a reason I can help you .... let
> >> us
> >> >see how your functioning democracy and its press
> >> >treats you.
> >> >
> >> >> *** Helping educate people like yourselves,
> >> although
> >> >> not always
> >> >> successfully .
> >> >
> >> >Actually ..... not a single case of success ....
> > > not
> >> >much of accomplishment :)
> >> >
> >> >In this context, the 'nwdhown gaa
> >> >> dhouaali, nakhawn
> >> >> bhaat khuali, nigilw ki koro kor' factor plays
> >> out
> >> >> quite often :-).
> >> >
> >> >Same on the other side is true ... particulrly when
> >> >you try avoiding difficult questions.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >--- Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Do you think that ULFA (or Anyone else) should
> >> deny
> >> >> >anybodys right to host Indian Flag ?
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> *** ULFA is in an armed conflict with India. It
> >> is a
> >>
> >=== message truncated ===
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> >____________________________________________________________________________________
> >Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s
> >user panel and lay it on us.
> >http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7
>
>
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>
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