I agree with the concerns you raise, Santanu. They are
totally valid.
>I am
not opposing the boycott.
*** Unfortunately, even if you or I can empathize with the need
to stop an unchecked immigration ,a boycott like this is bound to be
misused or misapplied sooner or later, just like all vigilante-justice
does. And when the innocent or the undeserving becomes a victim, the
injustice becomes complete.
Ultimately it boils down to one thing: The inability and/or
unwillingness of Indian Governance to deliver on its duty of
protecting its borders from unchecked immigration.
I realize all too well, that a complete border sealing will never
be possible and immigration from B'Desh will continue to take place,
as long as the there is land to be occupied. I think it is land, much
more than the opportunity to grow vegetables on chars or provide cheap
labor, that brings B'Deshis into the NE.
But the migration could be abated and controlled with creative
and policies
and action on the part of Indian Govt. Question is whether the
political will
exists? By all indications, spanning thirty plus years, it does
not.
At 2:28 PM -0500 5/23/05, Roy, Santanu wrote:
Dear Dilip-da:
We all seem to be quietly rejoicing this "boycott of Bangladeshis" in Dibrugarh and the reported exodus. But does anyone honestly believe that this kind of a move is not going to affect the Bengalis and na-oxomiyas who migrated from Bangladesh prior to "1971" (or your favorite cutoff date)? That it can continue without igniting civil strife?
I am not opposing the boycott. I am only saying that we should not be so naive as to expect this kind of a mass action to take fine tooth comb and examine the legality and/or propriety of who it expels. Most likely it will affect anyone who looks and speaks like a Bengali from what is now Bangladesh - and particularly, those who are poor and Muslim.
If I may venture to predict, no one is going across the border. They are simply relocating - temporarily and if things turn bad, permanently - to the lower districts.
And what if this boycott and student action spreads to the lower districts? What if someone tries this in Barpeta or Dhubri? We will have civil war on a good scale.
Santanu.
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Dilip/Dil Deka
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 1:05 PM
To: Chan Mahanta; Rajib Das; assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu
Subject: Re: [Assam] Sentinel Article: Guess who is on whose side: Ref theboycott of Bangladeshis
Is this an attempt to spin the ULFA accusations out of control? Does anyone know what atrocities have been committed? I read that there an appeal in some areas to stop employing or patronizing illegal workers. Did it go further than that?The following news report in the Sentinel tells me that there is an attempt now to communalize the subject. Is there any likelihood that the attempt will succeed?Dilip=================================================================Exodus: CPI hits out at BJP, Osmani
By a Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, May 23: The CPI has accused both the BJP and AF Golam Osmani, chairman of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee's minority cell, for, what it called, trying to communalize the recent exodus of suspected foreigners from upper Assam. It has also expressed doubt over the State Government's role in the whole episode.
"The people of Assam should remain vigilant against the forces who are trying to communize the entire issue," said Promode Gogoi, CPI national executive member, while addressing the press in the party office here today.
He, however, said that though his party is in favour of stopping all kinds of harassment on Indian minorities, 'the foreigners illegally entering in the country will have to be detected and deported to protect the interest of the citizens of the country.'Gogoi, however, said that it is a 'very good sign' that all political parties as well as the minority organizations, including the United Minority Forum and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind have supported the decision taken in the recent tripartite talks held in New Delhi on the Assam Accord.
"The State Government should find out the names of the fleeing people conducting a district-wise survey and check their citizenship status on the basis of 1971 voters' list, Gogoi suggested. "But the Government is not willing to do that for some obvious reasons," he added.
=====================================================================
Chan Mahanta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >ëChairmaní Arabinda Rajkhowa in a statement said that
>the outfit will not tolerate atrocities on indigenous
>Assamese Muslims in the name of illegal immigrants.
*** Should the Assamese or the ULFA tolerate
"---atrocities on indigenous Assamese Muslims--" ?
At 7:45 PM -0700 5/22/05, Rajib Das wrote:
>Wasn't there somebody here who mentioned the central
>plan of supporting Bangladeshis?
>
>What do folks think of this?
>
>
>
>ULFA: Stop harassing Assamese Muslims
>
>By a Staff Reporter
>
>GUWAHATI, May 22: The proscribed ULFA today joined the
>ësave Muslimsí bandwagon by issuing a warning to those
>harassing innocent people. It termed the move as a
>pre-election exercise of people with vested interests.
>ëChairmaní Ar! abinda Rajkhowa in a statement said that
>the outfit will not tolerate atrocities on indigenous
>Assamese Muslims in the name of illegal immigrants.
>
>Rajkhowa also refuted allegations that the outfit had
>appealed to the US administration to strike off its
>name from the countryís list of terrorist
>organizations. He said that recent reports in this
>regard are an attempt to discourage the struggle of
>the outfit.
>
>On the other hand, four persons were arrested last
>night for their alleged nexus with the ULFA. Panbazar
>Police apprehended two persons ó Kuntal Sarma, a
>correspondent of a vernacular daily and Chinmoy Kanti
>Sarkar ó from Bilasipara on charges of their
>involvement in unlawful activities under ULFA.
>Chandmari Police also arrested Fainur Ali and
>Tafiruddin Ahmed from Maroi in Sipajhar for their
>links with the ULFA. A large number of arms,
>am! munition and documents were recovered from their
>possession.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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