*Assam adivasis seek international help to get ST status *(http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080048496)* * *Lalit K Jha (NDTV.COM)* Thursday, May 1, 2008 (United Nations): ********************************************************************************************************************** Participating in the ongoing meeting of the United Nations Permanent Mission on Indigenous Issues, tribal leaders from Assam have sought help of international community in safeguarding their interests and protecting their basic rights in this North-Eastern State.
In two different memorandums submitted to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights<http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080048496#>and fundamental freedom of indigenous people, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, a group of about half-a-dozen tribal organizations, have urged him to impress upon the Indian Government to recognize *adivasis* of Assam in the Schedule Tribe list. These tribal had migrated from Jharkhand during the British era to work in the tea garden. ''In Assam the *adivasis* are not even recognized as Scheduled Tribes unlike their counterparts in other States of India. Long years of subjugation and suppression have made the *adivasi* people suffer from low self image,'' it said. In a meeting with the Special Rapporteur, they also raised the issue of attack on a rally of All Adivasi Student's Association of Assam (AASAA) on November 24 in which a large number of people were injured. ''We urged the Special Rapporteur to seek information on this issue from the Government of India and also to visit the country for his own assessment of the situation in Assam,'' Stephen Ekka, director of the Tejpur-based PAJHRA told NDTV.com in an interview. PAJHRA stands for Promotion and Advancement of Justice, Harmony and Rights of Adivasis. The memorandum requested the Special Rapporteur to impress upon the Indian Government<http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080048496#>to do a fair enquiry and punish the guilty of the 24th November incident. It also sought his help in urged the Indian Government for quick rehabilitation of the displaced *adivasis* and victimization and atrocities committed against them. The alleged Guwahati incident was also brought to the attention of Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; Human Rights Council; Council on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and Committee Against Torture. ''The Government has been very unsympathetic towards the community,'' said the memorandum. However, the participating tribal leaders are not sure if their voice would be heard or not, if this help in getting their demands meet back home. ''How, far it would be helpful, I am not sure,'' Anjali Tirkey Ekka of Chotanagpur Rising Association, said. She was disappointed with the poor response from the Special Rapporteur, who according to her said could only visit India if allowed and only after he was given all the documented proof of the incident. *Boro's demand * The Boro's of the State have different set of issues and demands. Anjali P Daimari, president of the Boro Women's Justice Forum, in her presentation at the meeting said the government must acknowledge qualities of indigenous people and its stewardship role played as custodian of the natural resources and the role they played in mitigating are reversing climate change. Also in capacity of an advisor to the Indigenous Women's Forum of North East India, Daimari emphasized that the Government must take urgent steps to arrest the deforestation and enhance the forest cover to balance the CO2 emission. The meeting started on April 21 and will end on May 2. Regards, Kamal Kumar Tanti. Mumbai.
