Well stated, Santanu. You managed to speak your mind without getting hung up on emotions. The following paragraph was not very clear to me -- "If the demand for secession is based on the fact that Assam and the states of north east India are colonies of India - then, one must also understand that no empire minds insurgency or armed rebellion that only affects the colonies. For them, its a nuisance at worst." Can you elaborate please? Dilipda
----- Original Message ---- From: "Roy, Santanu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Malabika Brahma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 9:11:08 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] What prevents India from holding a plesbicite C-da: I agre with all of this. But an armed rebellion is not likely to succeed on its own. One needs a civilian political movement above the ground for three reasons. One, to build up and establish internationally visible political legitimacy for the demand for secession (this is distinct from the moral legitimacy of the demand that you allude to). Second, to articulate and formulate a blueprint for the proposed state in transparent direct interaction with people. This cannot be done from the barracks. Third, and this is far important than all of the above, to actively foster nation building across the thnic groups in the state. To have a nation state, a pan-Assam political nationality beyond ethnic identities must emerge. This is also not possible without a long term civil movement. My thoughts were in connection with how one might find room for a civil political movement even within the current political landscape. In the history of the world, no armed rebellion has been sustained more than few decades without a definite strong civilian political process above the ground. If the demand for secession is based on the fact that Assam and the states of north east India are colonies of India - then, one must also understand that no empire minds insurgency or armed rebellion that only affects the colonies. For them, its a nuisance at worst. Finally, I do not think the current negotiations are going to lead to any settlement in the near future. Santanu. -----Original Message----- From: Chan Mahanta [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tue 1/10/2006 11:13 PM To: Roy, Santanu; Malabika Brahma; assam@assamnet.org Subject: RE: [Assam] What prevents India from holding a plesbicite Hi Santanu: A few quick thoughts about your thoughts. Gotta run for a bunch of meetings this morning. >Is that unconstitutional? I mean, is it unconsitutional to demand an >amendment >to the constitution? I don't think so. *** I don't know the answer. But since the constitution was NOT something given down to a bearded man on a mountain top engraved in stone tablets by God himself, and it was something devised by imperfect men, who did NOT represent all of the disparate constituents of the union and under circumstances not entirely under their control and/or free will; one will have to believe that it is an instrument that should and could be amended and corrected, to reflect the need of the times. There is nothing inherently sacrosanct about a constitution. Much more so in the Indian context, because it is violated by its custodians everyday, with the institutions of governance UNABLE to prevent its debasement. The Indian constitution's sanctity is a myth, created by people in power, by majoritarian diktat, and not thru democratic means where minority rights have credible and effective built-in protections. *** The question of the constitutional constraints in dealing with the issue of secession aspirations of a people could arise ONLY if the constitution has been mutually acceptable with a credible track-record for safeguarding the interests of the many disparate constituents of the union, as they were promised at the time of accession. Take for example the case of Manipur, in which the accession was forced by imprisonment of its King by a lowly Indian army Brigadier at the orders of Sardar Patel. If it is not so accepted by EVEN ONE of the constituents, then it is fair game to be disavowed by the aggrieved party. That would be a natural law. Oh, yes there would be the issue of might is right. Just as it has played out in the subcontinent since independence. And that is why the armed rebellions. More later! At 10:07 PM -0600 1/9/06, Roy, Santanu wrote: >One must recognize that all it takes for India to recognize the >right to secede and a procedure for secession of states is to have a >constitutional amendment. That's not very tough - its been done over >50 times. >Now, one can rephrase the demand for referendum and right to >secession as a demand for such a constitutional amendment. Is that >unconstitutional? I mean, is it unconsitutional to demand an >amendment to the constitution? I don't think so. Now, suppose a >political party was floated in Assam that demanded an amendment to >the constitution - in this instance, with particular reference to >procedure for secession of Assam. Suppose it contested the election >on that platform and won a strong majority of seats. Would that be >almost equivalent to a preliminary vote on demand for self >determination? >I am just thinking aloud. > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Chan Mahanta >Sent: Tue 1/10/2006 12:30 PM >To: Malabika Brahma; assam@assamnet.org >Subject: Re: [Assam] What prevents India from holding a plesbicite > > > >>Chandan da thinks he is right. > >*** I am perfectly willing to SUBMIT to the will of the people of >Assam, as expressed in a free and fair plebiscite. Heaven knows they >have suffered enough. > >> May be most of the people in Assam want seperation from India or >>may be they don't. > >*** And if they had a shot at expressing themselves, AFTER they had >an opportunity to EXAMINE the TRUTHS about their condition ( as thru >a free and unfettered discussion/debate of all pertinent issues), if >they choose to remain with India and share their dysfunctional state >of the state, so be it! I shall forever hold MY peace on that. > >And I salute YOU Utpal, for being able to think like that ( not that >I had a doubt).But can Ram? Can Rajen? Can Himen-da ? Can the so many >amongst us who sing the praises of democracy on the one hand, but >shall not accord the same to the people of Assam, or of Kashmir? > > >>I hope someday the nation called India will be matured enough to >>incorporate >the "instrument of seccession" in the constitution. > > >*** Me too. But we all know the reality. > > > > > > > > > >At 11:23 PM +0000 1/9/06, Malabika Brahma wrote: >>Chandan da thinks he is right. So does Rajen da or Ram da or Mike da >>or my self. May be we all are right or may be not. It does not >>matter what I or you feel (the elites of Assam) , what really >>matters is what the people of Assam feel. May be most of the people >>in Assam want seperation from India or may be they don't. >> >>There is easy way to find out. Hold a plesbicite under a free >>neutral environment and avoid all bloodshed. >> >>But somehow I think the present form of GOI does not have the moral >>courage to face the free and fair ballot that would decide the fate >>of Assam or NE for that matter. Also the question is whether >>pro-independence groups of NE have the moral courage face the same. >> >>I hope someday the nation called India will be matured enough to >>incorporate the "instrument of seccession" in the constitution. >> >>Ut! pal Brahma >> >> >> >><http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail/uk/taglines/default/cars/*http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/>Yahoo! >>Cars NEW - sell your car and browse thousands of new and used cars >>online >><http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail/uk/taglines/default/cars/*http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/>search >>now >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>assam mailing list >>assam@assamnet.org >>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _______________________________________________ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org _______________________________________________ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
