[Assam] Politicians keeping ULFA issue alive
Ram Sarangapani
assamrs at gmail.com
Mon Feb 9 13:25:49 PST 2009
C'da,
>What I could not determine here, however, is IF you DO believe that Assam
political parties seek ULFA's help or not, in getting to >power.
I don't know..but from the past & what we have been reading .... political
parties did seem to have a connection. Even during the National Games, there
was some news about the Gogoi govt. brokering a temporary peace deal (to
stop violence).
Now, to feel better, one can state that political parties sought ULFA's
help... in reality it may well be that they seek each other's help.... some
sort of quid pro quo.
It is difficult to believe that the ULFA or the political parties would help
each other without motives.
>Tell you what Ram--it sounds like a "Heads I win, tails you lose"
proposition. But why am I am not surprised :-)?
Heheh! C'da, I may be graduating soon, after all. That is exactly how many
of us long-time netters have felt in responses from the master. :):)
--Ram
On Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 7:56 AM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
> Ram:
>
> Glad you shared your thoughts here. At least you did not leave us
> guessing.
>
> What I could not determine here, however, is IF you DO believe that Assam
> political parties seek ULFA's help or not, in getting to power.
>
> Yes, I did catch your concession that 'corrupt - montris' etc. might . Now
> that would leave the vast majority of the rest of them out of it, is that
> what you would like us to believe, since corrupt ones are so rare and
> exceptions to the rule?
>
> Tell you what Ram--it sounds like a "Heads I win, tails you lose"
> proposition. But why am I am not surprised :-)?
>
> c-da
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 10:31 AM -0600 2/8/09, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 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?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 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.
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> assam mailing list
>>>>> assam at assamnet.org
>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
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