[Assam] ULFA no longer a force to be reckoned with, IB tells Centre - Sentinel

[kamal deka]

>>>>I believe that part is true. Yes, that feeling exists. A lot of the reasons
(in the past) were true. The "step-mother' syndrome, and so on<<<
RS,

What has ULFA been demanding?

It makes my hackles rise to see a small elite group of Assam trying to
exhort the government to rope in ULFA to the dialogue process with the
purpose of having a discourse on its ' VARIOUS DEMANDS ' in order to
clinch a peace pact.But the question that stares in our face is:could
anyone, save ULFA,IDENTIFY THE CHARTER THAT HAS LISTED  OUT the
so-called 'VARIOUS DEMANDS ' as expounded by those intellectuals? I am
willing to bet my bottom dollar on the fact that the people of
Assam,at large,are not cognizant of ULFA's 'various demands' with the
exception of its sole and extravagant demand of ' sovereignty' vis-a-vis Assam's
Independence.I am wondering if ULFA,for reasons best known to them,has
made a vow to put those ' MYSTERIOUS DEMANDS ' up its sleeves only to lay
out at the negotiating table,keeping the people of Assam in the
dark.Well,let them have palavers and parleys by all means,but in a
representative democracy,the people,whose wishes and aspirations they
claim to represent,have the fundamental right to know about it.It will
be absolutely wrong for anybody's part to surmise that viewpoints
should stop emerging beyond ULFA because it will not be in sync with
the democratic principle.The ULFA,therefore,will do well to understand
that in the fitness of things,they are bound to bring their ' VARIOUS DEMANDS'
demands' out into the open for public consumption.



On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 10:41 AM, Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Uttam,
>
> Almora looks beautiful - even from here. btw. There is also an Almora in
> Illinois. Glad you could join us.
>
>>As in the case of Armed Rebellion being obsolete, do we have anything to
> discuss if ULFA is not a force to be reckoned with? Why the heck >are we
> discussing it at all? Why is Sentinel discussing it?
>
> I understand the feeling. It is not whether the Sentinel, you or I are
> discussing the issue - it is the Center, who does not want to be a part of
> the discussion. The move, I think, is strategic for the Center - it
> obviously feels it can relegate the whole issue as a law & order, have the
> State Govt. deal with the insurgents etc, and the Center can then deal with
> the issue more as an *arbitrator*, as opposed to becoming a party to any
> discussions.
>
>>Why is Sentinel discussing it? Why some people came to a conference for
> discussion for solving it through discussion? Why do I see
>>it on TV always that these leaders, some lawyers, the policeman, some
> politician saying something or the other  on ULFA and this problem?
>
> The news item is* NOT* saying that the State also will not have discussions.
> Of course, there will be interested parties who want discussions, and of
> course, there is public interest, it is just that the Center is now
> *re-defining
> its role*, a different role, if you will.
>
>>He asked me whether it was visible to me that north Indian business
> communities are beginning to squeeze the Assamese with
>>sheer money power and political clouts from the heart of Guwahati City.....
> when ULFA was strong they were no where to be seen.
>
> Really? We have always known Marwari businesses as the life-blood of Assam's
> business and industry. I suppose your friend may have just seen this. And
> businesses also hold a sway on the local politics.
>
> And as far as "when the ULFA was strong..... they were no where to be
> seen"... that statement says a lot.
>
> Why were they not seen? Were they scared to death, that the ULFA would
> threaten, loot, send demand letters, kidnap, or murder them?
>
> Everywhere, when there are criminals and terrorists running loose, sane
> people lie low.  I am not sure, if this is something to be elated about.
> Every, strong, well-run, self-respecting Assamese owned buisiness will tell
> you, that they love the competition from these "North Indians" and this is
> good for business. And Assam is STILL run by Assamese. On the one hand, one
> hears, everyone and their uncle in Assam want the likes of Infosys,
> Mahindras etc open up business centers in Assam, and then there is this
> "fear". What gives?
>
> I really wonder, how this friend of yours feels about illegal Bangaldeshis
> coming in droves into Assam, and quite posssibly turning Assamese into a
> non-viable minority?
>
>
>>the sense of alienation has not vanished as yet. And such sense may not
> always have rational results.
>
> I believe that part is true. Yes, that feeling exists. A lot of the reasons
> (in the past) were true. The "step-mother' syndrome, and so on. Today, we
> keep reading, of high corruption, of funds from the Center being returned
> back without being spent or fully spent like clock work, and financial,
> budget data, still years behind. Civic, and important infrastructure in
> sheer chaos. And yet, the reigns of power in the state are still in Assamese
> hands.
>
> The Center also seems to pay a lot more attention to the state. The other
> day, PC. Chidambaram was quoted as saying that MPs and legislators from
> other states make it a point to visit Assam and other NE States, to
> understand the inequities, aspirations, and feelings of the people in the
> region.
>
> And yet, there will always find someone else to blame - well, this time it
> is the 'North Indian businesses'.
>
>
> --Ram da
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 9:39 AM, UTTAM BORTHAKUR
> <uttamborthakur at yahoo.co.in>wrote:
>
>> Dear Ram Da:
>>
>> As in the case of Armed Rebellion being obsolete, do we have anything to
>> discuss if ULFA is not a force to be reckoned with? Why the heck are we
>> discussing it at all? Why is Sentinel discussing it? Why some people came
>> to
>> a conference for discussion for solving it through discussion? Why do I see
>> it on TV always that these leaders, some lawyers, the policeman, some
>> politician saying something or the other  on ULFA and this problem?
>>
>> That day a doctor met me in an eatery. I have not heard anything about
>> his political connections. He asked me whether it was visible to me that
>> north Indian business communities are beginning to squeeze the Assamese
>> with
>> sheer money power and political clouts from the heart of Guwahati City.....
>> when ULFA was strong they were no where to be seen... and he confided that
>> we are yet to see the last of the ULFA or its variants  even if the present
>> ULFA leadership capitulates. Pointing to his heart, he said, " Something is
>> there you know, it is not so simple...."
>>
>> You may be knowing better. Though I do not support ULFA, and I do not
>> belive
>> that any good will come out of their acts so far, but I do not believe that
>> Assamese or the north east peoples have no reason to feel alienated.....
>> whether you like it or not, the sense of alienation has not vanished as
>> yet.
>> And such sense may not always have rational results.
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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