[Assam] Politicians keeping ULFA issue alive

[Aiyush Dutta]

Your eartlier digest system was better. but since you are more comfortable
with this format, please delete my name from the list.
Regards
Aiyushman Dutta

On 2/8/09, Biraj Bhuyan <karma260 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Sir,
> Please be advised that you delete this e mail from your list. Further e
> mail
> will not be appreciated
> Thank you, Karma
>
> On Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 11:44 PM, Dilip and Dil Deka <dilipdeka at yahoo.com
> >wrote:
>
> > I don't think the netters would have missed this article in the Assam
> > Tribune. Since no one posted it, I thought it is worthwhile bringing it
> to
> > people's attention. Many of us have always suspected that the political
> > parties in Assam have kept the ULFA issue alive for their benefit. Now
> some
> > insiders are talking about it.
> >
> > Politicians keeping ULFA issue alive
> > Spl Correspondent
> >  NEW DELHI, Feb 6 – Confirming what has been widely suspected, pro-talk
> > group of ULFA said the banned outfit has played an active role in every
> > election in the State since 1992. The breakaway faction charged the
> > political parties with keeping the ULFA problem alive to serve their own
> > interest.
> >
> > The open assertion by the pro-talk group ahead of the Parliament election
> > is likely to trigger a heated debate on links between the political
> parties
> > and ULFA. The banned outfit has had a hand in formation of every
> government
> > since 1991, asserted Mrinal Hazarika replying to questions during an
> > interaction with students studying in Delhi.
> >
> > Without getting into details, Hazarika, who was accompanied by Prabal
> Neog,
> > said that ULFA had links with one party or the other at some point of
> time.
> > "We cannot deny involvement of any political party or minister with
> ULFA",
> > he said..
> >
> > Hazarika, however, declined to single out anyone by name, asserting that
> no
> > politician in the State can manage polls without help from ULFA.
> >
> > Prafulla Kumar Mahanta-led AGP Government was dismissed in 1990 by
> Central
> > Government for its alleged links with ULFA. Tarun Gogoi Government has
> also
> > faced allegations from time to time about involvement of some of its
> > ministers with ULFA, though he has consistently denied it.
> >
> > Significantly enough, these former ULFA men hold the political parties
> > responsible for the delay in resolution of the vexed militancy problem.
> The
> > State's political parties are keen on keeping the ULFA problem alive.
> They
> > do not want this problem to be solved, asserted Hazarika last evening,
> > interacting with a group of journalists.
> >
> > The Government of Assam has also not shown interest to solve the problem,
> > he added.
> >
> > When asked whether they planned to play in a role in the ensuing
> elections,
> > Hazarika said they have started interacting with few leaders and are
> > pressing them to highlight the issues they have been raising. "We also
> > propose to appeal to them to unite all the ethnic tribal groups of the
> > State", he said.
> >
> > The three-member delegation of former ULFA men including Jiten Dutta has
> > been touring the capital to drum up support for their cause. The leaders
> > said they want to evolve a consensus on the burning problems of the State
> > and build up a movement to establish that ULFA has become extraneous and
> the
> > demand for sovereignty has become irrelevant.
> >
> > "Unfortunately, ULFA has for the past 29 years of struggle, shoddily
> > deviated from its ideological goals. So, we have decided to put a
> momentary
> > break on our armed struggle and to pave out a way through democratic
> > struggle for the protection of our existence", the leaders said.
> >
> > The group has worked out a 12-point charter of demands, which would be
> > formally submitted on February 20 to the Prime Minister through the
> office
> > of the Chief Minister.
> >
> > The demands include total autonomy, as against sovereignty, creation of
> > upper House of the Assembly, the issue of illegal migrants, flood and
> > erosion problem, construction of the Stilwell Road, halt to construction
> of
> > mega dams in upper reaches of Brahmaputra river mainly in Arunachal
> Pradesh
> > and Bhutan, besides total control over the State's resources.
> >
> > Clarifying their demand for total autonomy, Hazarika said they advocate a
> > federal structure, where Centre would hold on to only four
> responsibilities
> > including defence, currency, external affairs and commerce.
> >
> > Interestingly enough, the pro-talk group does not see much hope of
> massive
> > crackdown on ULFA and other militant outfits based in Bangladesh after
> Awami
> > League came to power. In Bangladesh, the Army and the DGFI are
> all-powerful
> > and the State cannot do much without their consent.
> >
> > There may be some minor actions but those will be more of an eyewash,
> they
> > opined.
> >
> > The leaders, however, refused to accept Government of India's contention
> > that over 97 ULFA camps existed in Bangladesh. It is not possible to have
> > such a large number of camps, though there are few camps and shelters in
> > urban areas, Hazarika said.
> >
> > Confirming ULFA's relationship with ISI and DGFI, the leaders said
> > commander-in-chief Paresh Barua has not visited the State since 1992,
> though
> > chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa was in Assam for a long time after that.
> > _______________________________________________
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> > assam at assamnet.org
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> >
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>



-- 
Said the fiddle to the violin, I love it when they break my strings. Said
the violin to the fiddle, I cry when their silence sings. ..............
Aiyushman Dutta Journalist - Scriptwriter cell: 91-99571-93228