[Assam] Fwd: Re: Los Angeles Times on Northeast India

[Alpana B. Sarangapani]

In short, why not India just give in to everybody's 'khwab'?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
“In order to make spiritual progress you must be patient like a tree and humble like a blade of grass.”
 
 
 
 

> Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 12:06:17 -0500> To: assam at assamnet.org> From: cmahanta at charter.net> Subject: Re: [Assam] Fwd: Re: Los Angeles Times on Northeast India> > > >I don't know why govt. of India could not win over B'desh to get the transit> >rights. Every time a new government takes charge, we enthusiastically talk> >of a favorable climate; every time the same story repeats. We are also> >reluctant to take any mediator who could show reasons and objectivity to> B'desh.> > > > > **** Nor do many others Manoj. It is India's inability to change from > the rut it has created for itself, a mind set that it cannot change. > The same mind-set that does not bend to respond to the needs of their > fellow men, while holding on to dogmas and self-imposed 'rules' that > they hold sacrosanct and infallible producing results like:> > *** Bhopal tragedy victims --who got little , while the > rulers held onto hopes for imprisoning> Union Carbide CEO.> > *** Holding on to the real estate of Kashmir while gladly > sacrificing hundreds of thousands> of their own people's lives.> > *** Annihilating hundreds of thousands Nagas, Mizos, Oxomiyas > and other kins of ours> but holding on to the real-estate without a flexible or > sincere approach towards a political> settlement.> > *** Letting the people of the NE suffer the consequences of > depriving the Brahmaputra> waterway for navigation to satisfy its needs to be 'tough' > with them Miyas of B'desh.> > *** Unable to reform its dysfunctional institutions of state > like the 'bureaucratic system', its law> enforcement , its laws and its courts and system of justice, > its electoral system, its> educational systems, its public health system, ad nauseum.> > One can go on and on.> > And our intelligentsia, remains ignorant and apathetic.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > At 9:56 PM +0530 6/3/08, Manoj Das wrote:> >Hi C-da> >> >I really don't understand this diplomacy much! But what I understand is> >that, at large, a nation has to behave like a good conscientious citizen in> >the comity. It has to be strong yet compassionate, shrewd yet considerate,> >should know how to use "*xam dam dondo bhed*" to achieve its goals of> >national interest.> >> >I don't know why govt. of India could not win over B'desh to get the transit> >rights. Every time a new government takes charge, we enthusiastically talk> >of a favorable climate; every time the same story repeats. We are also> >reluctant to take any mediator who could show reasons and objectivity to> >B'desh.> >> >-mkd> >> >> >On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 6:54 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:> >> >>> >> > >International diplomacy requires more than just dialog. India is not a> >> good> >> >brother in its neighborhood; disliked by everyone..we may blame> >> conveniently> >> on foreign hand..:)> >>> >>> >> *** Exactly! And thus B'desh "FRUSTRATING" India's attempts at> >> opening up navigation is not an accurate portrayal of the situation,> >> is it? It is an attempt to portray B'desh as the bad-guys here. That> >> is why I asked the question I did.> >>> >> That however is NOT to be construed as my holding up B'desh as the> >> GOOD guys, as some will surely do. The point is, as you say,> >> "---International diplomacy requires more than just dialog". There> >> have to be gives and takes.> >>> >> Question is what has India DONE in that front? Has "democratic" India> >> EVER shared with its people, what it has offered B'desh, for what ;> >> or what B'desh demanded for what, so that a public dialog can ensue,> >> or so the public can gauge its rulers' SINCERITY in these> >> 'negotiations'?> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> At 9:47 AM +0530 6/3/08, Manoj Das wrote:> >> >C-da> >> >> >> >Well, Govt. of India has been holding talks with Bangladeshi counterparts> >> >through direct channel.. Bangladesh could never forgive India for the> >> >Farakka barrage.> >> >> >> >International diplomacy requires more than just dialog. India is not a> >> good> >> >brother in its neighborhood; disliked by everyone..we may blame> >> conveniently> >> >on foreign hand..:)> >> >> >> >mkd> >> >> >> >On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 6:40 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>> >> wrote:> >> >> >> >> M:> >> >>> >> >>> > > >>> >> >> > > Number one is Bangladesh, which is> >> >> >constantly frustrating India's efforts to get transit through the male> >> >> river> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >> *** What do we know about what INDIA has been doing to get B'deshi> >> >> co-operation to get river access to Assam and the region ?> >> >>> >> >> Has Indian govt. told us what it has been doing all these decades,> >> >> and how B' or why B'desh has been FRUSTRATING it?> >> >>> >> >>> >> >> As you can imagine, these efforts always involve give and take. Just> >> >> demands and/or intimidation does not bring results. Have Indian> >> >> officialdom ever brought the people into confidence and shared their> >> >> negotiating stances and the B'deshi responses ?> >> >>> >> >> I am sure the people of Assam would want to know that. Wouldn't you?> >> >>> >> >> c-da> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >> At 9:41 AM +0530 6/2/08, Manoj Das wrote:> > > >> >I was thinking this all along!> >> >> >> >> >> >When I shared this news with a Japanese thinker from ADB, he was> >> stunned..> >> >> >There are many players in this. Number one is Bangladesh, which is> >> >> >constantly frustrating India's efforts to get transit through the male> >> >> >river. Secondly a grand politics of undermining Assam's destined> >> position> >> >> as> >> >> >the land bridge between giant Asian land and economic masses.> >> >> >> >> >> >mkd> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 9:33 AM, Dilip&Dil Deka <dilipdeka at yahoo.com>> >> >> wrote:> >> >> >> >> >> >> Forwarding.> >> >> >>> >> >> >> Dilip&Dil Deka <dilipdeka at yahoo.com> wrote: Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2008> >> >> >> 20:58:13 -0700 (PDT)> >> >> >> From: Dilip&Dil Deka <dilipdeka at yahoo.com>> >> >> >> Subject: Re: [Assam] Los Angeles Times on Northeast India> >> >> >> To: baruah at bard.edu, cmahanta at charter.net> >> >> >>> >> >> >> Dear Sanjib,> >> >> >> You said, "But are they producing or is it only assembling> >> products.> >> >> I> >> >> >> don't know the answer. "> >> >> >> Even Assembling products is better than not doing anything. Mexico> >> is> >> >> >> making a lot of money assembling products for USA. Assembling> >> products> >> >> >> eventually leads to local production if the local entrepreneurs> >> mean to> >> >> take> >> >> >> part in the process.> >> >> >> Car battery industry is a good example. As I understand, back in> >> >> seventies> >> >> >> batteries were assembled in Assam. I heard that most of the parts> >> are> >> >> now> >> >> >> made in Assam. Is it true?> >> >> >> Dilipda> >> >> >>> >> >> >> baruah at bard.edu wrote:> >> >> >> Dear Dilipda and Mahanta,> >> >> >>> >> >> >> Good hearing from you. I am skeptical, as Mahanta has noted. But> >> not> >> >> >> because a lot new is not taking place -- but because things that> >> are> >> >> >> crucial for a breakthrough are not happenning. There is a much more> >> > > >> affluent India, and many in Delhi are genuinely committed to doing> >> >> >> more. So if earlier we talked about 100 crores, now the language is> >> of> >> >> >> 1000 crores. But is money enough? Domestic policy and foreign> >> policy> >> > > >> cannot be separated when it comes to Northeast India. Our> >> relations> >> >> >> with China may be improving in many ways, but not when it comes to> >> >> >> Arunchal Pradesh. Only last summer China has begun referring to AP> >> as> >> >> >> China's Southern Tibet. So long as the Burmese military regime is> >> >> >> there, huge amount of foreign funds are not going to move in to> >> build> >> >> >> infrastructure in Burma. Indian money or Chinese money can do a> >> little> >> >> >> bit of this and that, but not the funds that could be mobilized for> >> >> >> Northeast india to benefit from India's Look East policy. No matter> >> >> >> how much we shout about Bangladesh's animosity, the burden of> >> normal> >> >> >> relations is on the bigger neighbour as in all such cases of a> >> country> >> >> >> that is far more resourceful than the aggreived smaller neighbor.> >> We> >> >> >> may be landocked by India, said a Bangladeshi foreign minister, but> >> >> >> Northeast india is landlocked by us. So the military man's vision> > > of> >> >> >> the Look East policy -- linking up with the Burmese or the> >> Bangaldeshi> >> >> >> army to get support for their anti-insurgency operations--is a very> >> >> >> poor substitute to the huge leap of resources -- material as well> >> as> >> >> >> intellectual -- that is needed for the task. At the same time I am> >> >> >> willing to say that we do not know the implications of some of the> >> >> >> huge amount of money that is being spent. There are about 15 daily> >> >> >> flights from Delhi to Guwahati -- more than any other comparable> >> city.> >> >> > > There is much more energetic road-building (and the massive> >> >> >> disappearance of trees and of the familiar surroundings around the> >> >> >> trunk road) etc etc. I know the planes carry many businessmen> >> taking> >> >> >> advantage of the tax benefits of investing in the region. But are> >> they> >> >> >> producing or is it only assembling products. I don't know the> > > answer.> >> >> >> But we surely need a new language to talk about the region --> >> >> >> certainty "neglect" is not what is happenning any more.> >> >> >>> >> >> >> Hope all is well.> >> >> >>> >> >> >> With warm regards,> >> >> >>> >> >> >> Sanjib> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >> Quoting Chan Mahanta :> >> >> >>> >> >> >> > Thanks for sharing the article Baruah.> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > But I share your skepticism. We have heard these for decades on> >> end> >> >> >> > now. The politicians attempt to take credit for imaginary> >> >> >> > achievements and establishment spokespersons paint rosy> >> scenarios, in> >> >> >> > the air. But what has the reality been?> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > m> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > At 8:33 PM -0400 5/30/08, baruah at bard.edu wrote:> >> >> >> >>> >> >>> >> http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-india29-2008may29,0,6712115.story> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> From the Los Angeles Times> >> >> >> >> Northeast India is poised to tap economic potential> >> >> >> >> The eight-state area plans multiple projects to increase its> >> trade> >> >> >> >> with Southeast Asia.> >> >> >> >> By Shankhadeep Choudhury> >> >> >> >> Los Angeles Times Staff Writer> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> May 29, 2008> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> NEW DELHI - India's remote northeast region has been both> >> blessed> >> >> and> >> >> >> >> cursed by its geography. The region is rich in natural resources> >> but> >> >> >> >> is landlocked and surrounded by China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and> >> >> Bhutan,> >> >> >> >> leaving it impoverished.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> The eight-state region may finally get a chance to start living> >> up> >> >> to> >> >> >> >> its economic potential with several projects to enhance> >> connections> >> >> >> >> with Southeast Asia and to increase outlets for such commodities> >> as> >> >> >> >> organic foods, orchids, tea, coal and oil.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> Now, the only way to move major quantities of goods between> >> >> northeast> >> >> >> >> India and Southeast Asia is through Bangladesh.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> But authorities in Myanmar and India are nearing final approval> >> of a> >> >> >> >> $100-million river project giving northeast India direct access> >> to> >> > > the> >> >> >> >> Indian Ocean through Myanmar, said Abhijit Barooah, chairman of> >> the> >> >> >> >> northeastern chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry,> >> >> India's> >> >> >> >> premier business association.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> The project envisages facilitating movement of cargo from> >> India's> >> > > >> >> Mizoram state to Myanmar's port at Sittwe, via the Kaladan> >> River.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> In addition, talks have begun between companies in northeast> >> India> >> >> and> >> >> >> >> Thailand after a trade-promotion conference in Bangkok in> >> October,> >> >> >> >> said Lemli Loyi, assistant general manager at the state-run> >> North> >> >> >> >> Eastern Development Finance Corp. Loyi expressed hope that the> >> talks> >> >> >> >> would result in increased business and possible joint ventures.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> India first enunciated a "look east" policy, an economic and> > > >> strategic> >> >> >> >> orientation toward Southeast Asia, in 1992. It had its genesis> >> at> >> >> the> >> >> >> >> end of the Cold War, after the collapse of the Soviet Union.> >> Having> >> >> >> >> lost the Soviet economic and political support on which it had> >> >> relied,> >> >> >> >> the Indian government embarked on a program of free-market> >> >> >> >> restructuring at home and sought new markets and economic> >> partners> >> >> >> >> abroad.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> Officials envisaged that the eight northeast states -- Assam,> >> >> >> >> Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura> >> and> >> >> >> >> Mizoram -- would emerge as a trading hub for two dynamic regions> >> >> >> >> connected by a network of highways, railways, pipelines and> >> >> >> >> transmission lines. The region is home to about 40 million> >> people.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> But progress has been slow. The region's isolation dates to the> > > >> 1800s.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> "Nineteenth-century British colonial decisions to draw lines> >> between> >> >> >> >> the hills and the plains, to put barriers on trade between> >> Bhutan> >> >> and> >> >> >> >> Assam, and to treat Burma as a buffer against French Indochina> >> and> >> >> >> >> China severed the region from its traditional trade routes --> >> the> >> >> >> >> southern trails of the Silk Road," said Sanjib Baruah, a> >> professor> >> >> of> >> >> >> >> political science at Bard College in New York and an expert on> >> >> > > >> northeast India.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> The British built railways and roads mostly to take tea, coal,> >> oil> >> >> and> >> >> >> >> other resources out of Assam and into the rest of India and also> >> to> >> >> >> >> Europe.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> The problems increased with the partitioning of India and> >> Pakistan> >> >> in> >> >> >> >> 1947. Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan in the 1970s.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> Barooah said trade would be boosted by an expected move by the> >> >> Indian> >> >> >> >> and Myanmar governments to expand the list of mostly> >> agricultural> >> >> >> >> commodities allowed to be traded by land between northeast India> >> and> >> >> >> >> Myanmar, from 27 to 42 items.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> "The northeast is the closest land mass connecting the dynamic> >> >> >> >> economies of south and Southeast Asia," said Pradyut Bordoloi,> >> >> Assam's> >> >> >> >> minister for power and industries. "Besides deep-rooted cultural> >> >> >> >> linkages, we can reap multidimensional benefits in this era of> >> >> >> >> regional economic cooperation."> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> Bordoloi is closely associated with a campaign to reopen the> >> World> >> >> War> >> >> >> >> II-era Stillwell Road, connecting Assam's town of Ledo to> >> southwest> >> >> >> >> China.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> "If reopened, this would be the shortest surface route to Yunnan> >> >> >> >> province of China and other Southeast Asian countries hooking> >> onto> >> >> the> >> >> >> >> trans-Asian highways," he said.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> The road served as the supply line into China during Japan's> >> wartime> >> >> >> >> occupation, but it was shut after India's independence from> >> Britain> >> >> in> >> >> >> >> 1947.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> Bordoloi said his campaign to reopen the road, initiated after> >> he> >> >> >> >> became a state legislator in 1998, scored a victory when India> >> >> >> >> upgraded the road to a full-fledged national highway, developing> >> it> >> >> up> >> >> >> >> to the Indo-Myanmar border.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> Officials say infrastructure development, power, bamboo-based> >> > > >> >> industries, orchids and organic foods are prospective areas of> >> >> >> >> cooperation with Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> But significant hurdles remain, including concerns that booming> >> >> trade> >> >> >> >> relations may fuel rises in insurgency, narco-terrorism and> >> AIDS,> >> > > all> >> >> >> >> of which plague the northeast. Security in the region is tight,> >> with> >> >> >> >> the army out in force to combat armed groups battling for> > > greater> >> >> >> >> autonomy or independence from India.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> "The official restrictions that prevail in northeast India -- in> >> >> terms> >> >> >> >> of travel, land and labor markets -- are hardly conducive to> >> >> intensive> >> >> >> >> cross-border economic relations," said Baruah, the political> >> science> >> >> >> >> professor.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> "Both the reality of insurgencies in the region and the security> >> >> >> >> anxiety of the government of India . . . are major obstacles to> >> >> >> >> dynamic cross-border economic ties," he added, calling current> >> >> efforts> >> >> >> >> hardly more than "a bare beginning."> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> Also, Baruah said, it was difficult to imagine a big increase in> >> >> trade> >> >> >> >> given the political situation in military-led Myanmar.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> India's relations with China, a country it has long regarded> >> with> > > >> >> >> distrust since a 1962 border war, would also have to become much> >> >> more> >> >> >> >> relaxed, Baruah said.> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________> >> >> >> >> assam mailing list> >> >> >> >> assam at assamnet.org> >> >> >> >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > _______________________________________________> >> >> >> > assam mailing list> >> >> >> > assam at assamnet.org> >> >> >> > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________> >> >> >> assam mailing list> >> >> >> assam at assamnet.org> >> >> >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >> >> >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >--> >> >> >Manoj Kumar Das> >> >> >C 172 GF, Sarvodaya Enclave> >> >> >New Delhi 17 India> >> >> >0091 9312650558 (HP) 9910972654> >> >> >_______________________________________________> >> >> >assam mailing list> >> >> >assam at assamnet.org> >> >> >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >> >>> >> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________> >> >> assam mailing list> >> >> assam at assamnet.org> >> >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >> >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >--> >> >Manoj Kumar Das> >> >C 172 GF, Sarvodaya Enclave> >> >New Delhi 17 India> >> >0091 9312650558 (HP) 9910972654> >> >_______________________________________________> >> >assam mailing list> >> >assam at assamnet.org> >> >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >>> >>> >> _______________________________________________> >> assam mailing list> >> assam at assamnet.org> >> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> >>> >> >> >> >--> >Manoj Kumar Das> >C 172 GF, Sarvodaya Enclave> >New Delhi 17 India> >0091 9312650558 (HP) 9910972654> >_______________________________________________> >assam mailing list> >assam at assamnet.org> >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org> > > _______________________________________________> assam mailing list> assam at assamnet.org> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
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