[Assam] Influx causing grave problem in North East

Mon Jul 2 20:21:22 PDT 2007

Influx causing grave problem in NE
>From Our Spl Correspondent
 NEW DELHI, June 28  In a significant remark, M Veerappa Moily Committees Report on Administrative Reforms has conceded that illegal migration from Bangladesh has created intractable problem in the region, reducing the indigenous people to minority in some parts tracing rise of militancy to the menace. The six-member Committee which submitted its report to the Prime Minister on Monday, dwelt on the problem of illegal migration from Bangladesh at length. Initially, this migration represented movement of peasants from the over-populated eastern districts of Bengal to the sparsely populated and fertile and fallow Brahmaputra Valley consisting Assam.

The redrawing of national boundaries following partition provided an impetus to migrants from East Pakistan for reasons of personal safety to settle in Assam, where their presence gave rise to ethnic and linguistic tensions. This was followed by fresh influx of all communities due to the agrarian crisis in East Pakistan. This migration has continued even after the emergence of Bangladesh. 

The fear among the local populace that this immigrant population would reduce them to minority, as has in fact happened in some parts, has fuelled militancy in the region, the Moily Committee admitted. 

The report goes on to say that militancy in Assam, on the foreigners issue has multiplied and spread to many new areas. Large-scale immigration into Tripura gave birth to militancy there in the 1960s the report acclaimed.

The Committee has further criticised the policy of giving autonomy to various groups and communities. Ad hoc solutions resulting in widely varying degrees of autonomy to different bodies  sometimes within a single State  have led to competitive demands and when they are not met, to alienation and violence. The report has also touched on the problem of militancy in the North-east. The numerous militant movements in the region have different objectives, the Committee noted.

Apart from causing huge loss of human lives, militancy has hampered economic development of the region. The situation is compounded by the involvement of some foreign intelligence agencies, which are providing material support to the insurgents. Besides, the long porous international borders have facilitated the movement of these groups and smuggling of arms, it said.

The problem of militancy in pockets of the North-east is obviously very complex. The ethnicity, diversity, geography and history of the region demand a comprehensive nation building approach for resolving the complex issues. Fair reconciliation of conflicting interests in the region, adequate local empowerment with accountability, infrastructure development, economic growth, greater economic linkages with neighbouring regions and better governance and democratic legitimacy must go together for the foundation of durable peace and prosperity in the region.

However, in the short term, security agencies need to be strengthened, extortion and abductions must be stopped, militancy should be curbed and accountability should be institutionalised in order to protect human rights, Moily Committee recommended.

The Committee has also noted the steps initiated by the Central Government like revamping of the North Eastern Council, creation of separate Ministry of DoNER for the region, earmarking of 10 per cent of Budgetary allocation of Central Ministries for the region besides setting up of the Non Lapsable Pool of Central Resources. 

Moily Committee has recommended insertion of a new chapter in Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (ULPA) instead of enacting a new legislation, to replace the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act. The new Chapter VI A in the ULPA, proposes to empower the Centre to deploy forces under its control to quell internal disturbance, even if the concerned State has not requested for Central forces.

While recommending repeal of the dreaded Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Moily Committee has spelled out several built-in safeguards in the new chapter to safeguard against human right abuse by the security forces.

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