[Assam] ULFA : Demand for full autonomy of Assam

[uttam borthakur]

>>>>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  pragmatic approach.
 
xxxx The question that readily comes to even a naive mind is like this. Okay, let us assume for argument's sake that ULFA top leaders are renegades to the noble causes of Assam. Since the 'pro-talk group' has already severed relations with those allegedly 'renegade' leaders, why the 'pro-talk ULFA' cannot continue the earlier demands of the ULFA.? How can a change in the leadership cause a change in the aims and objectives? I'm surprised, because, age-old religious and cultural ties with India cannot be a new situation. It it is present now, it was there always. If it was not there earlier, it is not there now. What are these  global political and economic situation or continuous threat from the neighbouring countries surrounding Assam or possible terrorist attacks in Assam by anti-Indian religious and fundamentalist groups which were not in existence earlier but have come into being now that makes it mandatory to change the demand from
 sovereignity  to  full autonomy?. Why do we need a 'pro-talk ULFA' organisation for that? The CPM has been doing that in West Bengal and they can be asked to espouse this cause here. Even our boys in AGP and Yuva Chatra Parishad and AASU have been raising similar demands. Also we have experience of URMCA and CPIML raising such demands earlier. (What is new?) Further, the name 'pro-talk ULFA' itself appears to be a misnomer in the sense that 'L' here stands for 'liberation' and in the changed situtaion it should be something like 'Autonomy Demand Front of Assam'. 
 
I have reason to believe that the 'pro-talk ULFA' has not thought out its agenda at length. Since the demand has come down from 'independence' to 'autonomy', have they given up the guns and are totally dependent on Indian security forces for their individual saftey,as we ordinary citizens are? Because, I tend to think that we are not allowed to be armed as a group under the Indian Constitution and the laws framed there under. Are all their arms and ammunition licensed by the State and Union Government of India? Or are they more equal than us, the ordinary indian citizens on the streets?   
 

 
Uttam Kumar Borthakur




________________________________
From: kamal deka <kjit.deka at gmail.com>
To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world <assam at assamnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, 8 March, 2009 8:38:15 PM
Subject: Re: [Assam] ULFA : Demand for full autonomy of Assam

The state of Assam can't be the exclusive preserve of ULFA ( Pro-talk ).You
folks,therefore,don't represent the people of Assam.The Assamese people may
have different wishes and aspirations.
KJ Deka
Houton,Texas

On Sat, Mar 7, 2009 at 12:29 AM, ULFA Pro-talk <ulfa.protalk at gmail.com>wrote:

> 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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>
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