[Assam] Politicians keeping ULFA issue alive

Sun Feb 8 08:31:11 PST 2009

C'da,

Maybe I could take a gander ... not that it means much.

****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..***

Ok - they had links. But what kind of links? To create havoc? To fund a
montri's power run? To intimidate hapless voters to vote one or the other?
What?

I don't think anyone ought to be surprised that corrupt politicians will be
willing to go to any extent to get the gadhi?

***Hazarika, however, declined to single out anyone by name, asserting that
no politician in the State can manage polls without help from ULFA.****

Yeah right! So, what in essence was the big deal about this press
conference? MH could have done us all a favor by naming the corrupt montris
... maybe, just maybe present & future montries will think twice.

****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.***

Could be wrong here, but it does take two to tango. If the ministers sought
ULFA's help, and the ULFA obviously gave that help (according to the news),
why would either of the parties involved not continue with their alliance?

***The State's political parties are keen on keeping the ULFA problem alive.
***

And, who C'da, is helping these state politicians in keeping this problem
alive?  I'm sure most of us can figure that out.

But I do wish these guys the best, and hope they are able to find some way
to forward a proposal to the GOI/GOA that results in a permanent solution &
lasting peace in Assam.

--Ram

On Sun, Feb 8, 2009 at 9:35 AM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:

>
> Since no one wanted to examine this piece of news, allow me to share my
> thoughts:
>
> *** We have heard, time and again, that the political parties that
> represent Indian rule in Assam, do go seek ULFA's help in getting elected.
>
> And if the statement by Mrinal Hazarika is correct,  then it is nothing new
> at all.
>
> *** IF indeed  it is true, then :
>
>        Claims by Indian govt. propagandists in Assam, namely successive
> Assam govts., have
>        been lying to the people of Assam thru their teeth; the same
> propaganda that our friends in
>                   Assam net for example  have been lapping up and put their
> faiths on these same govts.,
>        while parroting  slogans like ULFA has no influence, that nobody
> pays any heed to them,
>        that they do  not speak for  Assam; so on and so forth.
>
>        One can't have it both ways, can one?
>
> *** IF indeed Mrinal Hazarika's statement  proves this for a fact, then the
> thoughtful of Assam, those who really care for its welfare ( and not merely
> satisfied with parroting the govt. propaganda), should know that ULFA does
>  have a significant support base across the hinterland, and that it is not
> just  few folks on the fringes of society, living the good life in B'desh --
> like they are so fond of repeating to no end.  Should they, therefore, NOT
>  stand up and be counted on demanding that India sincerely engage in a
> dialogue with ULFA  in finding a political solution to the endless conflict
> ?
>
> And if they don't, are they contributing anything to the solution or are
> remaining a part of the problem by their absence ?
>
> Will any of our righteous and vocal friends who rarely shrink back from the
> propaganda battles, tell us?
>
> cm
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> At 7:56 AM -0600 2/7/09, Chan Mahanta wrote:
>
>> At 8:44 PM -0800 2/6/09, Dilip and Dil Deka 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.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> **** So, what do you think of it?
>>
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>>> 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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>>>
>>
>>
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