> The information in this news item is important. It gives a good picture of> > what life would be in "Independent Assam". There is a caveat - is the> > source of information reliable? It sure does. Whether the source is reliable may be of some concern,but if one were to hazzard a guess, it is not at all surprising. --Ram On 6/27/05, Dilip/Dil Deka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:> The information in this news item is important. It gives a good picture of> what life would be in "Independent Assam". There is a caveat - is the> source of information reliable?> Dilip Deka> > > Guwahati, Monday, June 27, 2005________________________________> 'Differences' crop up in ULFA leadership> By A Staff Reporter> GUWAHATI, June 26 – The banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has> reportedly split right through the middle with the leaders and cadres being> divided along regional lines. Highly-placed sources disclosed today that> there is a rift between upper Assam and lower Assam leaders and cadres. > > The sources said that sharp differences have cropped up among the leaders of> the outfit with the lower Assam commanders having contrary views on a number> of key issues vis-a-vis the stand taken by the leaders hailing from upper> Assam. ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and commander-in-chief Paresh Ba! ruah> both hail from upper Assam. But the commanders hailing from lower Assam> control the outfit as a whole, particularly the armed cadres.> > The moot point of the differences is the stand taken by the ULFA's top> leaders on the issue of Bang! ladeshi infiltration into Assam. Rajkhowa and> Paresh Baruah have taken an ambiguous stand, merely stating that the issue> can be sorted out after Assam's "independence". The lower Assam cadres,> however, want the outfit to take a stand against infiltration since it is an> issue close to the hearts of the common people in the State.> > The maltreatment of the cadres by the seniors within the outfit, like> demotion from the rank of 'lieutenant' to 'sepoy' for criticising the> seniors for wrong policies and use of non-democratic means in elections to> top posts have generated a lot of internal bickerings within the group. > > The ULFA's Nalbari unit, comprising the 709 battalion, has emerged as the> most powerful unit. Most of the ULFA! 's active commanders are from this unit> and they have their own set of opinions, quite contrary to the ones held by> Rajkhowa and Paresh Baruah. Earlier, the sources said, all important> operations were carried out by the upper Assam-based A and B units o! f the> 28th battalion. > > Misunderstandings have cropped up as a large number of lower Assam leaders> have been killed or arrested during operations while the upper Assam> leaders, who hold the top organisational posts, are safely ensconced in> Bangladesh. The sources said that the leadership in Bangladesh are operating> with their hands tied as Bangladeshi authorities have reportedly warned them> not to do anything against the interests of Muslims in Assam. Some of the> leaders, like Anup Chetia, have married Bangladeshi women. They also have> heavy financial interests in Bangladesh that they do not want to compromise> on.> > Leading the lower Assam lobby within the ULFA is Raju Baruah, a one-time> right hand man of Par! esh Baruah. Lower Assam cadres have started rallying> around Raju Baruah who hails from Bahjani in Nalbari district. It is this> lower Assam that has contributed scores of ULFA cadres who are presently> attached with different units of the ULFA. > > Raju Baruah ha! s decided to stay away from Bangladesh and avoid the leaders> there. He is reportedly in Burma along with a few trusted men, staying in a> camp in an area with a profusion of NSCN (K) camps. "He is said to be> unhappy also with the fact that there is no democracy within the> organisation with the upper Assam leaders maintaining a vice-like grip on> the organisation while the dirty work is entrusted to the lower Assam men,"> the sources added.> > _______________________________________________> Assam mailing list> [email protected]> http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam> > Mailing list FAQ:> http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html> To unsubscribe or change options:> http://pikespeak.uccs.ed! u/mailman/options/assam> > > _______________________________________________ Assam mailing list [email protected] http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam
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