> >I don't know why govt. of India could not win over B'desh to get the transit
>rights. Every time a new government takes charge, we enthusiastically talk
>of a favorable climate; every time the same story repeats. We are also
>reluctant to take any mediator who could show reasons and objectivity to
B'desh.
**** Nor do many others Manoj. It is India's inability to change from
the rut it has created for itself, a mind set that it cannot change.
The same mind-set that does not bend to respond to the needs of their
fellow men, while holding on to dogmas and self-imposed 'rules' that
they hold sacrosanct and infallible producing results like:
*** Bhopal tragedy victims --who got little , while the
rulers held onto hopes for imprisoning
Union Carbide CEO.
*** Holding on to the real estate of Kashmir while gladly
sacrificing hundreds of thousands
of their own people's lives.
*** Annihilating hundreds of thousands Nagas, Mizos, Oxomiyas
and other kins of ours
but holding on to the real-estate without a flexible or
sincere approach towards a political
settlement.
*** Letting the people of the NE suffer the consequences of
depriving the Brahmaputra
waterway for navigation to satisfy its needs to be 'tough'
with them Miyas of B'desh.
*** Unable to reform its dysfunctional institutions of state
like the 'bureaucratic system', its law
enforcement , its laws and its courts and system of justice,
its electoral system, its
educational systems, its public health system, ad nauseum.
One can go on and on.
And our intelligentsia, remains ignorant and apathetic.
At 9:56 PM +0530 6/3/08, Manoj Das wrote:
>Hi C-da
>
>I really don't understand this diplomacy much! But what I understand is
>that, at large, a nation has to behave like a good conscientious citizen in
>the comity. It has to be strong yet compassionate, shrewd yet considerate,
>should know how to use "*xam dam dondo bhed*" to achieve its goals of
>national interest.
>
>I don't know why govt. of India could not win over B'desh to get the transit
>rights. Every time a new government takes charge, we enthusiastically talk
>of a favorable climate; every time the same story repeats. We are also
>reluctant to take any mediator who could show reasons and objectivity to
>B'desh.
>
>-mkd
>
>
>On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 6:54 PM, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>>
>> > >International diplomacy requires more than just dialog. India is not a
>> good
>> >brother in its neighborhood; disliked by everyone..we may blame
>> conveniently
>> on foreign hand..:)
>>
>>
>> *** Exactly! And thus B'desh "FRUSTRATING" India's attempts at
>> opening up navigation is not an accurate portrayal of the situation,
>> is it? It is an attempt to portray B'desh as the bad-guys here. That
>> is why I asked the question I did.
>>
>> That however is NOT to be construed as my holding up B'desh as the
>> GOOD guys, as some will surely do. The point is, as you say,
>> "---International diplomacy requires more than just dialog". There
>> have to be gives and takes.
>>
>> Question is what has India DONE in that front? Has "democratic" India
>> EVER shared with its people, what it has offered B'desh, for what ;
>> or what B'desh demanded for what, so that a public dialog can ensue,
>> or so the public can gauge its rulers' SINCERITY in these
>> 'negotiations'?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> At 9:47 AM +0530 6/3/08, Manoj Das wrote:
>> >C-da
>> >
>> >Well, Govt. of India has been holding talks with Bangladeshi counterparts
>> >through direct channel.. Bangladesh could never forgive India for the
>> >Farakka barrage.
>> >
>> >International diplomacy requires more than just dialog. India is not a
>> good
>> >brother in its neighborhood; disliked by everyone..we may blame
>> conveniently
>> >on foreign hand..:)
>> >
>> >mkd
>> >
>> >On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 6:40 PM, Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >> M:
>> >>
>> >>
> > >>
>> >> > > Number one is Bangladesh, which is
>> >> >constantly frustrating India's efforts to get transit through the male
>> >> river
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> *** What do we know about what INDIA has been doing to get B'deshi
>> >> co-operation to get river access to Assam and the region ?
>> >>
>> >> Has Indian govt. told us what it has been doing all these decades,
>> >> and how B' or why B'desh has been FRUSTRATING it?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> As you can imagine, these efforts always involve give and take. Just
>> >> demands and/or intimidation does not bring results. Have Indian
>> >> officialdom ever brought the people into confidence and shared their
>> >> negotiating stances and the B'deshi responses ?
>> >>
>> >> I am sure the people of Assam would want to know that. Wouldn't you?
>> >>
>> >> c-da
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> At 9:41 AM +0530 6/2/08, Manoj Das wrote:
> > >> >I was thinking this all along!
>> >> >
>> >> >When I shared this news with a Japanese thinker from ADB, he was
>> stunned..
>> >> >There are many players in this. Number one is Bangladesh, which is
>> >> >constantly frustrating India's efforts to get transit through the male
>> >> >river. Secondly a grand politics of undermining Assam's destined
>> position
>> >> as
>> >> >the land bridge between giant Asian land and economic masses.
>> >> >
>> >> >mkd
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 9:33 AM, Dilip&Dil Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> >> wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Forwarding.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Dilip&Dil Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2008
>> >> >> 20:58:13 -0700 (PDT)
>> >> >> From: Dilip&Dil Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> >> >> Subject: Re: [Assam] Los Angeles Times on Northeast India
>> >> >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Dear Sanjib,
>> >> >> You said, "But are they producing or is it only assembling
>> products.
>> >> I
>> >> >> don't know the answer. "
>> >> >> Even Assembling products is better than not doing anything. Mexico
>> is
>> >> >> making a lot of money assembling products for USA. Assembling
>> products
>> >> >> eventually leads to local production if the local entrepreneurs
>> mean to
>> >> take
>> >> >> part in the process.
>> >> >> Car battery industry is a good example. As I understand, back in
>> >> seventies
>> >> >> batteries were assembled in Assam. I heard that most of the parts
>> are
>> >> now
>> >> >> made in Assam. Is it true?
>> >> >> Dilipda
>> >> >>
>> >> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>> >> >> Dear Dilipda and Mahanta,
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Good hearing from you. I am skeptical, as Mahanta has noted. But
>> not
>> >> >> because a lot new is not taking place -- but because things that
>> are
>> >> >> crucial for a breakthrough are not happenning. There is a much more
>> > > >> affluent India, and many in Delhi are genuinely committed to doing
>> >> >> more. So if earlier we talked about 100 crores, now the language is
>> of
>> >> >> 1000 crores. But is money enough? Domestic policy and foreign
>> policy
>> > > >> cannot be separated when it comes to Northeast India. Our
>> relations
>> >> >> with China may be improving in many ways, but not when it comes to
>> >> >> Arunchal Pradesh. Only last summer China has begun referring to AP
>> as
>> >> >> China's Southern Tibet. So long as the Burmese military regime is
>> >> >> there, huge amount of foreign funds are not going to move in to
>> build
>> >> >> infrastructure in Burma. Indian money or Chinese money can do a
>> little
>> >> >> bit of this and that, but not the funds that could be mobilized for
>> >> >> Northeast india to benefit from India's Look East policy. No matter
>> >> >> how much we shout about Bangladesh's animosity, the burden of
>> normal
>> >> >> relations is on the bigger neighbour as in all such cases of a
>> country
>> >> >> that is far more resourceful than the aggreived smaller neighbor.
>> We
>> >> >> may be landocked by India, said a Bangladeshi foreign minister, but
>> >> >> Northeast india is landlocked by us. So the military man's vision
> > of
>> >> >> the Look East policy -- linking up with the Burmese or the
>> Bangaldeshi
>> >> >> army to get support for their anti-insurgency operations--is a very
>> >> >> poor substitute to the huge leap of resources -- material as well
>> as
>> >> >> intellectual -- that is needed for the task. At the same time I am
>> >> >> willing to say that we do not know the implications of some of the
>> >> >> huge amount of money that is being spent. There are about 15 daily
>> >> >> flights from Delhi to Guwahati -- more than any other comparable
>> city.
>> >> > > There is much more energetic road-building (and the massive
>> >> >> disappearance of trees and of the familiar surroundings around the
>> >> >> trunk road) etc etc. I know the planes carry many businessmen
>> taking
>> >> >> advantage of the tax benefits of investing in the region. But are
>> they
>> >> >> producing or is it only assembling products. I don't know the
> > answer.
>> >> >> But we surely need a new language to talk about the region --
>> >> >> certainty "neglect" is not what is happenning any more.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Hope all is well.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> With warm regards,
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Sanjib
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Quoting Chan Mahanta :
>> >> >>
>> >> >> > Thanks for sharing the article Baruah.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > But I share your skepticism. We have heard these for decades on
>> end
>> >> >> > now. The politicians attempt to take credit for imaginary
>> >> >> > achievements and establishment spokespersons paint rosy
>> scenarios, in
>> >> >> > the air. But what has the reality been?
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > m
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > At 8:33 PM -0400 5/30/08, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>> >> >> >>
>> >>
>> http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-india29-2008may29,0,6712115.story
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> From the Los Angeles Times
>> >> >> >> Northeast India is poised to tap economic potential
>> >> >> >> The eight-state area plans multiple projects to increase its
>> trade
>> >> >> >> with Southeast Asia.
>> >> >> >> By Shankhadeep Choudhury
>> >> >> >> Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> May 29, 2008
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> NEW DELHI - India's remote northeast region has been both
>> blessed
>> >> and
>> >> >> >> cursed by its geography. The region is rich in natural resources
>> but
>> >> >> >> is landlocked and surrounded by China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and
>> >> Bhutan,
>> >> >> >> leaving it impoverished.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> The eight-state region may finally get a chance to start living
>> up
>> >> to
>> >> >> >> its economic potential with several projects to enhance
>> connections
>> >> >> >> with Southeast Asia and to increase outlets for such commodities
>> as
>> >> >> >> organic foods, orchids, tea, coal and oil.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Now, the only way to move major quantities of goods between
>> >> northeast
>> >> >> >> India and Southeast Asia is through Bangladesh.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> But authorities in Myanmar and India are nearing final approval
>> of a
>> >> >> >> $100-million river project giving northeast India direct access
>> to
>> > > the
>> >> >> >> Indian Ocean through Myanmar, said Abhijit Barooah, chairman of
>> the
>> >> >> >> northeastern chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry,
>> >> India's
>> >> >> >> premier business association.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> The project envisages facilitating movement of cargo from
>> India's
>> > > >> >> Mizoram state to Myanmar's port at Sittwe, via the Kaladan
>> River.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> In addition, talks have begun between companies in northeast
>> India
>> >> and
>> >> >> >> Thailand after a trade-promotion conference in Bangkok in
>> October,
>> >> >> >> said Lemli Loyi, assistant general manager at the state-run
>> North
>> >> >> >> Eastern Development Finance Corp. Loyi expressed hope that the
>> talks
>> >> >> >> would result in increased business and possible joint ventures.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> India first enunciated a "look east" policy, an economic and
> > >> strategic
>> >> >> >> orientation toward Southeast Asia, in 1992. It had its genesis
>> at
>> >> the
>> >> >> >> end of the Cold War, after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
>> Having
>> >> >> >> lost the Soviet economic and political support on which it had
>> >> relied,
>> >> >> >> the Indian government embarked on a program of free-market
>> >> >> >> restructuring at home and sought new markets and economic
>> partners
>> >> >> >> abroad.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Officials envisaged that the eight northeast states -- Assam,
>> >> >> >> Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura
>> and
>> >> >> >> Mizoram -- would emerge as a trading hub for two dynamic regions
>> >> >> >> connected by a network of highways, railways, pipelines and
>> >> >> >> transmission lines. The region is home to about 40 million
>> people.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> But progress has been slow. The region's isolation dates to the
> > >> 1800s.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> "Nineteenth-century British colonial decisions to draw lines
>> between
>> >> >> >> the hills and the plains, to put barriers on trade between
>> Bhutan
>> >> and
>> >> >> >> Assam, and to treat Burma as a buffer against French Indochina
>> and
>> >> >> >> China severed the region from its traditional trade routes --
>> the
>> >> >> >> southern trails of the Silk Road," said Sanjib Baruah, a
>> professor
>> >> of
>> >> >> >> political science at Bard College in New York and an expert on
>> >> > > >> northeast India.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> The British built railways and roads mostly to take tea, coal,
>> oil
>> >> and
>> >> >> >> other resources out of Assam and into the rest of India and also
>> to
>> >> >> >> Europe.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> The problems increased with the partitioning of India and
>> Pakistan
>> >> in
>> >> >> >> 1947. Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan in the 1970s.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Barooah said trade would be boosted by an expected move by the
>> >> Indian
>> >> >> >> and Myanmar governments to expand the list of mostly
>> agricultural
>> >> >> >> commodities allowed to be traded by land between northeast India
>> and
>> >> >> >> Myanmar, from 27 to 42 items.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> "The northeast is the closest land mass connecting the dynamic
>> >> >> >> economies of south and Southeast Asia," said Pradyut Bordoloi,
>> >> Assam's
>> >> >> >> minister for power and industries. "Besides deep-rooted cultural
>> >> >> >> linkages, we can reap multidimensional benefits in this era of
>> >> >> >> regional economic cooperation."
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Bordoloi is closely associated with a campaign to reopen the
>> World
>> >> War
>> >> >> >> II-era Stillwell Road, connecting Assam's town of Ledo to
>> southwest
>> >> >> >> China.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> "If reopened, this would be the shortest surface route to Yunnan
>> >> >> >> province of China and other Southeast Asian countries hooking
>> onto
>> >> the
>> >> >> >> trans-Asian highways," he said.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> The road served as the supply line into China during Japan's
>> wartime
>> >> >> >> occupation, but it was shut after India's independence from
>> Britain
>> >> in
>> >> >> >> 1947.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Bordoloi said his campaign to reopen the road, initiated after
>> he
>> >> >> >> became a state legislator in 1998, scored a victory when India
>> >> >> >> upgraded the road to a full-fledged national highway, developing
>> it
>> >> up
>> >> >> >> to the Indo-Myanmar border.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Officials say infrastructure development, power, bamboo-based
>> > > >> >> industries, orchids and organic foods are prospective areas of
>> >> >> >> cooperation with Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> But significant hurdles remain, including concerns that booming
>> >> trade
>> >> >> >> relations may fuel rises in insurgency, narco-terrorism and
>> AIDS,
>> > > all
>> >> >> >> of which plague the northeast. Security in the region is tight,
>> with
>> >> >> >> the army out in force to combat armed groups battling for
> > greater
>> >> >> >> autonomy or independence from India.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> "The official restrictions that prevail in northeast India -- in
>> >> terms
>> >> >> >> of travel, land and labor markets -- are hardly conducive to
>> >> intensive
>> >> >> >> cross-border economic relations," said Baruah, the political
>> science
>> >> >> >> professor.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> "Both the reality of insurgencies in the region and the security
>> >> >> >> anxiety of the government of India . . . are major obstacles to
>> >> >> >> dynamic cross-border economic ties," he added, calling current
>> >> efforts
>> >> >> >> hardly more than "a bare beginning."
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> Also, Baruah said, it was difficult to imagine a big increase in
>> >> trade
>> >> >> >> given the political situation in military-led Myanmar.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> India's relations with China, a country it has long regarded
>> with
> > >> >> >> distrust since a 1962 border war, would also have to become much
>> >> more
>> >> >> >> relaxed, Baruah said.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> >> >> 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
>> >> >>
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >--
>> >> >Manoj Kumar Das
>> >> >C 172 GF, Sarvodaya Enclave
>> >> >New Delhi 17 India
>> >> >0091 9312650558 (HP) 9910972654
>> >> >_______________________________________________
>> >> >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
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >--
>> >Manoj Kumar Das
>> >C 172 GF, Sarvodaya Enclave
>> >New Delhi 17 India
>> >0091 9312650558 (HP) 9910972654
>> >_______________________________________________
>> >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
>>
>
>
>
>--
>Manoj Kumar Das
>C 172 GF, Sarvodaya Enclave
>New Delhi 17 India
>0091 9312650558 (HP) 9910972654
>_______________________________________________
>assam mailing list
>assam@assamnet.org
>http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
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