[Assam] ULFA : Demand for full autonomy of Assam
ULFA Pro-talk
ulfa.protalk at gmail.com
Fri Mar 6 21:29:06 PST 2009
Dear Friends,
In the beginning, we convey our heartiest revolutionary greetings to the
members of Assamnet. We, the members of ULFA ( Pro-talk ) held a meeting on
15th December’2008 and unanimously agreed to give up the demand of a
sovereign state of Assam and demand for full autonomy within the framework
of Indian constitution, through a democratic and non-violent process. We
welcome discussion from all the Assamese people residing across the globe on
the demand for Full Autonomy of Assam under the framework of Indian
constitution. We are attaching herewith the 'Charter of Demands' submitted
to the Government of Indi. Also, we are attaching our Menifesto for
information of all members of Assamnet. Please log on to
www.sandhikhyan.orgfor updates.
Looking forward for constructive discussion and petronisation on the burning
issues of Assam from all the members of Assamnet.
Regards,
Jiten Dutta
Gen. Secy
ULFA (Protalk)
**
**
*MANIFESTO*
(ULFA PRO-TALK)
Historically and socially, Assam have no affinity with India &
administratively and geographically apart, ethnically distinct and the
neglect, deprivation and apathy rowards Assam and Assamese people
since 15thAugust 1947 to till to date, supports the justification of
independent
Assam. We joined the United Liberation Front of Assam to liberate Assam from
India. After 29 years of our struggle we have painfully observed that top
leaders of ULFA instead of fighting for desired goals, failed to safeguard
the identity and the existence of indigenous people, overlooking or ignoring
the presence of large number of illegal immigrants ( who will become
majority in next 20 years and they will conspire to merge with Bangladesh
through a referendum ) and involved in activities by getting distracted from
revolutionaries ideologies. Therefore, we the pro-talk ULFA group looking
at the (a) global political and economic situation (b) continuous threat
from the neighbouring countries surrounding Assam (c) possible terrorist
attacks in Assam by anti-Indian religious and fundamentalist groups (d)
age-old religious and cultural ties with India; have adopted a resolution in
favour of Full Regional Autonomy instead of independent Assam as a pragmatic
approach.
During the process of making the Constitution of India a resolution was
adopted to make India a federal one by giving regional autonomy to states
but unfortunately in the subsequent period it was made a centralized one,
resulting in the smaller states and the small indigenous groups having
specific characteristics and living with dignity have suffered in the hands
of big ethnic groups and states by way of aggression and exploitation. The
fallout is resentment, hostility and secessionism. We the pro-talk group
temporarily suspending the armed struggle & strongly advocating and demand
democratic process to bring a peaceful and political solution to
Assam-India’s conflict and clashes between the ethnic groups and to build up
a peaceful and prosperous Assam along with a united powerful India.
**
*Alternate to Independence*
* *
A full regional autonomy by enjoying all the residual powers excepting
defense,
external affaires, communications and print mint ( by making vital changes
to the existing Constitution of India ) to build up a real federal structure
by making vital changes to the infrastructure and reorganizing the states
with a provision for equal rights and representation to all indigenous and
ethnic groups. Similarly, in order to safeguard the identity and existence
of indigenous and ethnic groups, the federal administrative framework should
be used in Assam.
*Proposed administrative structure of Assam*
* *
To create an upper house, representing equally by all the indigenous and the
ethnic groups. Besides all indigenous people, other people those who have
already settled in Assam permanently as for example Bengalis, Biharis,
Marwaris, Punjabis, Nepalis and tea-tribes will be considered as ethnic
groups and will enjoy equal representations.
The upper house will be free to discuss, determine
and taking decisions on the proposed legislations and development schemes of
Assam in the best interest of the people of Assam. The objective principle
of the house is to safeguard the interests of indigenous and ethnic people.
1. The Upper House will be constituted selecting and electing number of
representatives from all ethnic groups. Central and State governments will
not be having the power and rights to dissolve the house. Only the
electorates through referendum shall have the right to reject or dissolve
the house.
2. Small ethnic groups will be having the rights to select
representatives through their socially recognized institutions and
organizations and the major ethnic groups will elect their representatives
through elections.
3. All the ethnic groups shall have the right to recall or replace their
representatives.
4. The representatives of the house will elect a leader and a deputy
leader. Rotation wise every ethnic group will elect a speaker and a deputy
speaker of the house and their term will be for a period of 1 year.
5. The responsibilities of the representatives of upper house will be a
service- oriented nature. There shall be no provisions for salary and
pensions but expenses relating to maintenance, medical, traveling
allowances, office and its maintenance and its security shall be borne by
the state government.
*The Rights and Powers of Upper House *
* *
1. Right to discuss, analyze and taking decisions on all proposed laws
and legislations and developmental schemes of Assam by ascertaining whether
it is in the best interest of Assam or not and will be free to amend or
reject such laws, legislations and schemes and such actions cannot be
disapproved by the concerned governments.
2. The main objective of upper house is to safeguard the existence and
development of all the indigenous and ethnic groups and to examine the
proper implementations of all the laws, legislations and developmental
schemes.
3. It will be statutory on the part of the concerned governments to send
the copies relating to the approval and implementation of all laws,
legislations and developmental schemes to the upper house.
4. Rights to amend , settle the matters relating to the disputes of
implementation of laws, legislations, developmental schemes, ethnic
conflicts, boundary and other disputes with the neighbouring north-eastern
states on the strength of majority support of the representatives. It shall
be obligatory on the part of the concerned governments to accept such
amendments and advices and to implement the same
*An administrative system based on Equal Rights, Status, and Development in
their own land for indigenous and ethnic people.*
* *
In the proposed regional autonomous administration, the power will be
de-centralized by creating district councils and by delegating powers to the
grass root levels. There will be zonal and village councils under district
councils.
District councils will be under the complete control of the major
indigenous people or groups and the other small indigenous and ethnic groups
will be able to assert their rights and fulfillment of their aspirations
through the zonal and village councils. While the implementing these
provisions a situation may warrant to reorganize some districts.
There will be no hindrances to major indigenous people or group to form
district councils, having a definite area of their own but the splintered
indigenous and ethnic groups will be able to assert their rights and fulfill
their aspirations through zonal and village councils.
*Proposed Format of Administrative Structure Of Indigenous and Ethnic
People.*
* *
*STATE GOVERNMENT*
* *
*DISTRICT COUNCIL*
* *
*ZONAL COUNCIL*
* *
*VILLAGE COUNCIL*
* *
*Creation of Ethnically based Administrative System and its Rights and
Powers*
* *
1. In every 5 years people will form districts, zonal and village
councils through elections.
2. Every district council will be reserved for the major indigenous
groups and the zonal and the village councils will be reserved on the basis
of the population composition of indigenous and ethnic people from their
definite areas.
3. Government shall implement all the schemes through district councils
and similarly district council through zonal councils and zonal councils
through village councils.
4. If a situation warrants, the state governments with approval from the
upper house will be free to dissolve the district council.
5. District councils will collect minimum revenue from the land,
establishments and other natural resources, market and finished products
through zonal and village councils of their areas.
*ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL***
An alternative administrative system may be considered in the proposed
autonomous rule against the above-mentioned system.
1. Under proposed autonomous state of Assam there will be a district
council in every district. 65% of the seats will be reserved for all the
major indigenous groups who are residing or permanently settled down before
1826. 20% will be reserved for all the other indigenous people of the
districts. 15% of the seats will be reserved for other ethnic people. 5% of
the seats will be reserved for qualified persons from the origin of other
states and foreign countries.
2. Similarly in all public and private sector institutions and
organizations of the districts there shall be reservations of 60% for the
indigenous people, 35% for all other ethnic people and 5% for the persons
from the origin of other states and foreign countries from the same district
in respect of employment.
3. Top priority should be given to the indigenous people of the districts
in respect to allotment of lands.
4. A sizeable share of the revenue earned by the district council will
be utilized for the all round socio-economic development of the people of
the districts through work programmes with independent economic power.
In Assam, Karbi-Anglong and north cachar hills are enjoying the status of
autonomous districts. Similarly the bodo-inhabited areas are being
recognized as BTAD since 2001. Therefore the proposed autonomous state of
Assam all the above-mentioned district councils will continue to enjoy
territorial, political status and powers. However in case of necessity for
the betterment, developments and the rights of the people, the number of
representatives by changing the ratio, ( increase or decrease ), may take
place in respect of appointments and employments.
*Rights over the Natural Resources of Assam*
* *
1. Assam government will have full rights over all the natural resources
of Assam including its exploration and utilization. The government shall
seek approval for exploration and utilization of all natural resources from
the upper house.
2. A share of dividend will be ensured to the central government with the
approval of upper house.
3. New exploration of natural resources can be done only by abiding the
terms and conditions laid down or with the approval of upper house.
4. Any big business group intending to set up industry or do
business-utilizing natural resources of Assam can be established only by
abiding the terms and conditions laid down or with approval of upper house.
5. Necessary steps will be taken to collect detailed information
regarding all the natural resources of Assam by way of proper and correct
survey.
*New Land and Revenue Laws*
* *
Introducing new land and revenue laws giving full rights of land to the
indigenous people by abolishing Assam Land and Revenue Acts of 1886
introduced by the Britishers.
1. In accordance to such laws no land can be transferred or sold to other
than the indigenous people.
2. Local people can retain their land under their occupation but can not
transfer or sale other than the indigenous people.
3. To ensure and issue of periodic pattas to the indigenous people of
their land holdings.
4. To recover the illegally occupied ceiling surplus lands by the
tea-estates by way of acquisition and allot the same to the landless tea
garden workers. In this respect 80% of the said land will be kept reserved
for the landless tea-garden workers belonging to the tea-estates from where
land ceiling surplus will be recovered.
5. Arrangements will be made to allot the char-areas to the genuine
citizens by way of proper and correct land survey. ( This will check the
illegal infiltration )
6. In consultation with the upper house the government of Assam shall
impose tax and collect revenues in respect of natural resources and its
products.
7. Besides natural resources the government of Assam with approval from
the upper house will collect revenue as fixed up through zonal council and
village councils under the district councils on other products and land,
markets, institutions and organizations.
8. Revenue fixation will be done as per joint decision of upper house and
government of Assam and the entire share of revenue earned will be in the
account of the government of Assam.
*Towards Safeguarding the Identity and Existence of the Indigenous People*
* *
1. To identify Indian citizens and foreign nationals by preparing a
revised and correct National Register of Citizens on the basis of NRC 1951.
2. Introducing dual citizenship by issuing photo-identity cards, people
and groups other than indigenous and ethnic groups will be restricted from
enjoying political powers.
3. To introduce inner-line permits.
4. Detected foreigners should be kept in the camps in specific zones and
to deport them phase wise to the country of their origin.
5. To seal the international borders completely attached to India as well
as with the north-eastern region.
6. Arrangements should be made to deport the detected foreign nationals
phase wise through bi-lateral agreements with the concerned countries. In
this respect a diplomatic measure or steps should be taken against probable
international political reaction.
*Towards Cultural development*
Culture is the refined and sophisticated shape, emerging out of all mental
and physical exercises for the all round development of human living. To
establish the people of “proposed autonomous state of Assam“ as a refined ,
culturally sophisticated race, it is essentially important to build up a
well organized healthy rural economy. Therefore :-
1. Soil testing to be done of all lands of every zone to make lands
suitable and more productive for agricultural practices as per agro-climatic
conditions and to make arrangements to export its products to other states
as well as to the foreign countries.
2. To create a strong infrastructure and markets in every zone to ensure
the farmers to get remunerative prices for their agricultural products by
way of removing middleman.
3. To restrict the import of luxurious products and priority will be
given to the production and import of essential commodities.
4. To set up cottage industries using local and easily available raw
materials of agricultural and forest products to strengthen economy and
arrangements will be made for its necessary technical higher training and up
to date machineries.
5. Arrangements will be made ensuring availability of loans from
financial institutions to the youths of Assam against agriculture, business
and setting up industries.
6. To develop an Assamese culture combining all indigenous and ethnic art
and culture. The main objective of developing a combined Assamese culture is
to build a refined cultured and powerful race.
7. A strong base is to be founded to shape up a regional culture by
removing the social ills and combining all the finer cultural elements of
north-east and simultaneously to build up north-east as well as Assam based
regional economy against major market economy.
8. A policy of technical education is to be introduced by abandoning the
spiritual and adopting a scientific approach. The prime objective of this
policy is to make the younger generation more competent, confident,
pragmatic and patriot.
9. To introduce three language formula i.e, indigenous language, English
and Assamese as a link language. Existing Bengali and Hindi medium schools
will continue as usual as additionally but there shall be restrictions of
opening of new schools of any other local language. ( More debates and
discussions will be required in this regard )
*Judiciary and Elections*
* *
Election commission and judiciary will be fully autonomous bodies in the
proposed ‘ Autonomous state of Assam’. ( It will be free from interventions
and interference of the central and state governments ). Creation of federal
India will be necessarily making vital changes to the existing constitution
of India and simultaneously all the laws and legislations relating to its
institutions and organizations will also be changed in respect of giving a
new constitutional shape to Assam.
*Natural Calamity*
* *
Priority is to be given for construction of small Dam’s across the quick
flowing small rivers for generation of hydro-electric power against big
Dam’s. Ro check land erosions and annual visiting floods, scientific and
technical measures are to be adopted and paralleled organizing and utilizing
the human resources.
*Our view point : In respect of indigenous and ethnic *
* *
1. *Indigenous* : Internationally the Steve Hagner’s theory in regard to
indigenous people has been recognized widely and by the majority. Therefore,
on the basis of Steve Hagner’s theory the definition of indigenous is being
determined in the context of Assam from our view point. As per the said
definition people those who were living within a definite territory prior to
colonial rule or occupied by foreign powers through invasion will be
considered ‘INDIGENOUS’. Hence as per Steve Hagner’s theory, the people
those who were living within the territory of Assam prior to British
colonial rule will be considered as ‘ INDIGENOUS’
2. *Ethnic* : On the other hand from our view point, with the emergence
of British colonial rule to 1971 those who have migrated settled and
assimilated with the indigenous people will be considered as ethnic people.
In this regard we would like to clarify that in spite of tremendous
controversy the ‘Assam Accord ‘is being accepted by the people in general in
Assam. Therefore, the cut off year of determining and detection of foreign
nationals will be 1971. The people those who have illegally entered after
1971 from Bangladesh and Nepal will be considered as foreign nationals. On
the other hand the people those who have migrated from the different parts
of India enjoying the status and rights of citizen and settled down
permanently will be considered as ethnic but those who are engaged in
business and trade after 1971 will be restricted from enjoying any other
rights and status and shall be treated as outsiders.
3. *Foreign Nationals* : After 1971 those who have illegally entered
Assam will be considered as illegal immigrants. We reject the approach of
ULFA considering Indian citizens along with illegal immigrants as foreign
nationals.
4. *Assamese* : the word Assamese has emerged out of the name of the
land, Assam, not on the basis of language. Hence, in the land of ‘Assam’ the
word Assamese will mean all indigenous and ethnic people.
5. *Progressive Nationalism* : The tendency of denying the status and own
characteristics of the small indigenous and ethnic groups by the major races
through aggression is chauvinistic nationalism and opposed to it, adopting a
policy of giving equal importance to the dignity, status , equal rights,
characteristics and equal development is progressive nationalism.
*Charter of Demands*
*ULFA ( PRO-TALK )*
1. *Full autonomy within the framework of Indian constitution.*
2. *a) In Assam Legislative Assembly, 70% of seats to be kept reserved
for the indigenous people.*
*b) To create an Upper House comprising of indigenous and ethnic people.*
* 3. Sealing of Indo-Bangla border to check illegal infiltration.*
* 4. To detect and deport foreign nationals taking 25.03.1971 to be
the cut off year as per . *
* memorandum of understanding between AASU and government of India.*
*5. To detect foreign nationals by preparing a revised national
register of citizens of 1951.*
*6. Detected foreign nationals to be kept in a special/specific area
and to deport them phase wise.*
*7. To introduce dual citizenship.*
*8. To introduce the system of inter-state permit.*
*9. To form a border commission to find solutions of border disputes
of north-eastern states.*
*10. To adopt a scientific approach to the flood related problems and to
recognize floods of Assam to be a national calamity.*
*11. Immediate steps should be taken to stop hydro-electric projects which
will cause immense damage to the state of Assam.*
*12. To open and develop Stillwell Road to connect Assam with south-east
Asia immediately. *
*13. To have dialogue with all the insurgent groups of north-east to
restore permanent peace in the region. *
*14. To declare river Brahmaputra to be a national waterway.*
*15. Necessary steps should be taken by the government of India to declare
Majuli as a world heritage site.*
*16. A special task force constituted by recruiting the indigenous people
of north-east and to deploy them in the indo-Bangla border to check
infiltration and safeguard the border. *
*17. To construct a seventh bridge across Brahmaputra to connect
Nimatighat and Majuli.*
*18. Immediate release of the four central committee leaders of ULFA from
jail. *
* *
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