[Assam] From The Hindu: ULFA militants holed up in National Park
ULFA militants holed up in National Park Sushanta Talukdar Army lays siege; cuts off supply lines from 42 forest villages to the park The PCG has threatened to call off the peace initiative if the Centre did not restrain the security forces GUWAHATI: Twenty militants of the United Liberation Front of Asom are hiding in the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in the Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts of Assam for the last three weeks. The Army has laid siege to the area. Security agencies said senior leaders of the ULFA's 28th battalion were among the rebels holed up in the jungle. The troops, drawn from the 181 and 82 Mountain Brigades under 2 Mountain Division, built up a cordon around the 765-sq km park with a core area of 340 sq km and cut off supply lines from 42 forest villages. However, they denied the outfit's claim that 12 of its militants were killed and their bodies thrown into a river during the operations. A delegation of the People's Consultative Group (PCG), formed by the ULFA, left for Dibru-Saikhowa on Tuesday for a first hand assessment of the ground situation in the wake of allegations of atrocities on villagers and killing of its cadres. The PCG has threatened to call off the peace initiative if the Centre did not restrain the security forces from carrying out operations against the militant outfit. Dilip Patgiri, a member of the delegation, told The Hindu that the Army seemed to have scaled down its operations following the group's intervention. The PCG said the ULFA had stopped operations since the formation of the group. Hence, the Centre should immediately restrain the security forces in reciprocation. MSN Premium gives you PC protection, junk-mail filters, advanced communication tools and great software like MSN Encarta® Premium. Click here for a FREE trial! ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Phizo?s representation in front of the Simon commission is very relevant today.
Phizo found a friend in Sir Bertrand - Nobel laureate had pleaded Naga cause with Nehru, reveals letter - http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050921/asp/guwahati/story_5264453.asp RAJEEV BHATTACHARYYA Sir Bertrand Russell (left) and Phizo New Delhi, Sept. 20: This seems to be the season of political revelations. Close on the heels of the sensational disclosures by a former KGB member about the Soviet secret service agencys meddling in Indias affairs during Indira Gandhis prime ministership, come revelations, though not as controversial, that one of the foremost thinkers of modern world had been sympathetic to the Naga cause. The thinker in question was Sir Bertrand Russell philosopher, mathematician, writer and relentless seeker of justice, even to the extent of being sent to jail for acts of passive resistance against Britains nuclear policy. Little-known facts about the early days of the Naga movement, emerging from interviews with London-based Naga activists, show that way back in 1963 Sir Bertrand attempted to intercede on the Nagas behalf with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru soon after Phizo, the Naga leader, arrived in London. Sir Bertrand was highly impressed with Phizos earnestness for a peaceful settlement. However, the Nobel laureate could not fathom the failure of the Indian government to arrive at a settlement with the Nagas, who had launched a movement in the mid-Fifties under the Naga National Council (NNC) to secede from the Indian Union. In a letter dated February 12, 1963, Sir Bertrand told Nehru, I find it hard to understand the difficulty of coming to an agreement which would put an end to the very painful occurrences incidental to the present policy of India. It is believed in some circles that New Delhis 1964 ceasefire with the Nagas might have been influenced by Sir Bertrands letter that was handed over to Nehru by Rev. Michael Scott. Rev. Scott later went to Nagaland as part of a peace mission along with Jayaprakash Narayan and then Assam chief minister Bimala Prasad Chaliha. Yongkong, vice-president of NNC who took refuge in Britain in 1962, said over phone from London that the philosopher was deeply touched by the atrocities on the Nagas. I never met Russell but Uncle Phizo would often tell me how concerned he was at the state of affairs in Nagaland. It appears that he understood the wider implications of the movement and was worried over the existing deadlock at that time, the former guerrilla leader, now aged 79, recalled even as he gave a vivid account of their differences with New Delhi. Though the 16-point agreement was signed and Nagaland carved out of Assam in 1963, it failed to satisfy the aspirations of the hardliners who would not settle for anything less than sovereignty. Sir Bertrand was keen that Phizo return to India so that talks could resume with the Indian government. He argued that, Phizo is entirely willing, if the Government of India consents, to go to India and, if possible, to put before you methods of conciliation of which the need from a humanitarian point of view is very great. Nehru subsequently asked Phizo to get in touch with the Indian High Commission in London and even sent S.C. Jamir, then a deputy minister at the Centre, to meet him with an offer of safe passage if he accepted the constitutional framework and agreed to work with the Nagaland government to restore peace. Phizo, however, refused the offer to return to India. Perhaps he was suspicious of New Delhis intentions. The Naga leader breathed his last in London in 1990. .FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar MSN Toolbar Get it now! ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Here is a snapshot from the MOSAIC of composite Assam, India is demolishing.
Meiteis in Assam keeping alive the legacy http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src="">Source: The Sangai Express Lanka (Nagaon), September 20: Love for ones own culture and tradition, a priceless legacy left behind by the forefathers and handed down through the generations, is ingrained in the hearts of the people.This seems to be all the more evident from the life-styles and social mores of the Manipuris (Meeteis) people who still retain the age-old customary practices of their forefathers, despite having settled elsewhere far beyond the nine-mountain ranges that surround the State.The pockets of Meitei colonies in Assam are no exception to this, with the people keeping alive the culture and tradition of their forefathers close to their hearts.It is heartening to learn that the Meiteis settled in Pipal Pukhuri area, near Lanka Town under Nagaon district of Assam have been observing the Lai-Haraoba festival for the last many years.The annual Lai-Haraoba of Lainingthou Khoriphaba , the main Umang Lai (deity) being worship by the people is completing 50 years next year.The Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee has already started making preparation for the grand event.We are thinking of sending Committee members to Imphal to invite some prominent Manipuri personalities for the occasion, M Pardip, a member of the Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee said.The temple of the Lainingthou Khoriphaba at Pipal Pukhuri No.I with a mandap/ hall in front, however, presented a semblance of a sacred groove of the Umang Lai.There is much that is needed to be done.It is informed that some years back, the temple of the Khoriphaba was roofed with hey.But on seeing the pitiable condition of the temple, the then Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly Debesh Chakraborty donated Rs 10,000 and the new concrete-mortar temple was constructed on October 7, 1993.Subsequently the local Panchayat also sanctioned Rs 1 lakhs during 2002-03 for of a mandop or hall.Since then, the devotees have been able to perform the annual ritual of Lai-Haraoba with ease, the local people said.The Lai-Haraoba of Lainingthou Khoriphaba was celebrated every year for seven consecutive days during Kalen-Inga season and it attracted not only the Meiteis settling in Pipal Pukhuri area but also from the neighbouring Meitei settlements like Lanka Paona Leikai, Lachi Nagar, Pandrogaon, Rajbari apart from a large people belonging to other communities.Although the Maiba-Maibis from Cachar used to perform the rituals of the Lai Haraoba in the past, for the last 16/17 years, the Maibas and Maibis from Manipur are being called for the same purpose. Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger Download today it's FREE! ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Fwd: khou.com Breaking News Alert
Houston's preparation for hurricane Rita is proceeding well. Flood prone areas have been identified. The areas where most Assamese families live should be safe even for category 5, except for lot of wind and rain. DilipBreaking News [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Subject: khou.com Breaking News AlertDate: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 09:44:01 -0500 (CDT) Mayor Bill White has called a voluntary evacuation of Houston residents in the storm surge areas (see storm surge map on KHOU.com), if you live in the 100-year flood plain or if your home has flooded before or if you live in a mobile home or other vulnerable structure. Watch the Mayor's news conference live on KHOU.com Stay with http://www.khou.com/ and 11 News for complete coverage. If you received this newsletter from a friend, go to http://www.khou.com/newsletters to subscribe. To modify your account, or unsubscribe from this newsletter, go to http://www.khou.com/newsletters/. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Fwd: khou.com Breaking News Alert
That was a good map. Thanks for the info DD. But it showed only possible areas that could be affected by a CAT 4 or 5 storm surge. Wasn't in Houston during Alicia (which was a CAT 3), but that caused a lot of damage.We were just wondering what we ought to do. My sister at Sugarland was telling me that she couldn't get plywood etc. They may plan to go to Dallas. Maybe we will just hunker down. On 9/21/05, Dilip/Dil Deka [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Houston's preparation for hurricane Rita is proceeding well. Flood prone areas have been identified. The areas where most Assamese families live should be safe even for category 5, except for lot of wind and rain. DilipBreaking News [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Subject: khou.com Breaking News Alert Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 09:44:01 -0500 (CDT) Mayor Bill White has called a voluntary evacuation of Houston residents in the storm surge areas (see storm surge map on KHOU.com), if you live in the 100-year flood plain or if your home has flooded before or if you live in a mobile home or other vulnerable structure. Watch the Mayor's news conference live on KHOU.com Stay with http://www.khou.com/ and 11 News for complete coverage. If you received this newsletter from a friend, go to http://www.khou.com/newsletters to subscribe. To modify your account, or unsubscribe from this newsletter, go to http://www.khou.com/newsletters/ . ___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Fwd: Re: ASSAMESE - STRENGTHS ---/The Other Problem
Hi Mayur: I will have get back to this on Monday or so.Got to meet a deadline and will be away over the weekend. cm At 6:39 AM -0700 9/21/05, mayur bora wrote: --- mayur bora [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:23:17 -0700 (PDT) From: mayur bora [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] CC: HIRANYA NATH [EMAIL PROTECTED], Loken Das [EMAIL PROTECTED], assam@assamnet.org Subject: Re: [Assam] ASSAMESE - STRENGTHS ---/The Other Problem Hi Mahanta da Since you have come one step ahead, I don't mind going forward two steps in the larger interest of the debate we have been actively involved in for the last many days. I stand by my earlier exercise of listing out our strengths and weaknesses. No doubt, I accept few points of yours here and there; but biggest chink in the armour of your arguments is the tendency to get swayed by a minor point leaving the main issue unaddressed. As a result, we are deprived of a far more enlightened and comprehensive analysis of the issue by an intelligent and experienced person. Consistency is often sacrificed at the altar of irrationality and a misplaced sense of satire to ridicule the opponents. So let us gracefully agree to disagree on the main point raised by me. It seems a few other netters are getting bored as we are locking horns with greater vigour with every passing day. I am definitely for plebiscite. Nothing in this world is sacrosanct except probably continuous welfare of the human race, that too, not at the cost of animal and plant kingdom. Same thing applies to our constitution also. Absence of the provision in the constitution does not rob of its significance and utility in the current socio economic condition in different parts of the country. But in case of Assam, let us have a broader view. Let it not be restricted to yes or no. We should make endeavours to transfrom it into a mechanism through which we can do some introspection irrespective of the people's verdict. Please post your views on the related issues which can be put to the people along with the main issue. I am sure the main verdict will not leave any be scope to be subjective. It will be pure statistics which will be very difficult to digest either for me or for you. I am ready for it. Are you ? Take care. Mayur Chandigarh --- Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Mayur: Good to hear from you. But before we go on to a serious issue, like the idea of a referendum, or plebiscite , let us see if we can close the loop on open issues here, like your assessment of the people of Assam, such as emotionally immature/illogical, violent /murderous, so on and so forth, and how you arrived at those conclusions. I swear you are an amazing bundle of contradictions. *** That may have some merit. But IF it does, it is a response to equally, if not more pronounced contradictions that you presented. I can detail them here, but in order move on, I will forgo that for the moment. But should you want an explanation, feel free to ask, I will be pleased to comply :-). *** Now then, do you continue to believe in the methodology and analyses of the kind you employed to assess those qualities of the people of Assam that you listed the other day? And then use those assessments to find solutions for the issues you see as problems? Why it is important to pin down, is that solution to 'problems' are dependent to correct definition of the problems. If it is vague, if it is faulty, the solution prescriptions would be too. At one place, you don't think twice to lambast me and ridicule my exercise and again, at another place you want my endorsement of your perspective. *** Does that surprise you? It should not have. Because none of us are forever imprisoned to either the 'right' camp or the 'wrong' camp. One can be right on some issues and wrong on others. I can see the notion was difficult for you to either comprehend or accept.That could also explain some of your previous comments. But I hope my explanation helps you with coming to terms with this seemingly unfathomable dichotomy :-). Otherwise you will accuse me of exhibiting some sloppy emotions to drive home a fact. *** Would that be out of place for a 'kharkhowa', as might be inferred from your assessments of our 'jaati' :-)? Jumping at the prospect of holding a plebiscite is simply preposterous. *** Here you confound me again. But reading on, it appears as though you have had the wrong idea about what the word preposterous means. I attempted to place a possibly missed not in front of it. But that did not read right,
Re: [Assam] Fwd: khou.com Breaking News Alert
Hope all of you in Texas and elsewhere in the path of Rita are safe, kharkhowa,kolguti-khowa, khoinikhowa, markhowa and every other shade of life. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] The Lost Children of Assam.
O'Kamal: Twmar logot olop kotha ase' ei bixoye. Pisot paatim baaru. Ritar baator pora aatori thakibahonk etiya . We wouldn't want you guys to become some more of The Lost Children of Assam. :-). c-da At 6:40 PM -0700 9/20/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Content-type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-language: en Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Content-disposition: inline What perplexes me is the chutzpah, displayed by The Lost Children of Assam (albeit grossly overgrown---read ULFA) in demanding a plebiscite by evoking the citizen's right. Have they forgotten that when a person seeks to secede, he or she ceases to be a citizen, period? It's strange, the way some people would bend the Constitution to suit their own purposes. As I see it, either one follows the law, or one gets it changed in Parliament via rousing the public opinion.a democracy in a long-established political unit permits no other way. KJD. ___ 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] From Tehelka: Bonded for Life Laborers
Title: From Tehelka: Bonded for Life Laborers THE MINING MAFIA HAS LABOUR BONDED FOR LIFE Stone age on Delhi's border The recent rescue of 114 bonded labourers, including children, from Haryana reveals that the authorities and mine owners are still conniving to hire and exploit bonded labour, abolished in 1976. Etmad Ahmad Khan investigates Pitiless In The Pits: Most of the mines in Haryana function illegally and exploit workers Photo Dharmender Ruhil Women in Pichupa Kalan mines were forced back to work barely eight days after delivering babies * Twenty-one-year old Bijendar Singh was blown to pieces as he was dangerously close to the explosion site. * Satpal Singh, 23, succumbed to his injuries after a heavy stone fell on his chest. * Mahipal Singh, 38, was crushed to death under a trolley carrying stones. * Dalbir Singh, 35, joined the list after the rope holding him at a height of 150 feet gave way. The list goes on, endless in its brutality and its sheer deathliness. Poor labourers continue to add statistics to a list that should not even exist as mining is mostly banned in Haryana. But even today, poor migrants in search of money end up as bonded labour in the inhuman and unsafe environs of Haryana's mines. No compensation has been paid to the dead. No one has even complained, simply because they don't even know that they can. Only three weeks ago, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an ngo, stepped in to rescue 114 bonded slaves, of which 56 were children, mostly girls. Ever since the now dethroned Om Prakash Chautala government monopolised the mining business in the state by auctioning quarries to private companies, violation of rules, regulations and safety norms has become the order of the day. Apart from cases of death, there are hundreds who have lost their limbs and eyes due to unsafe explosions and avoidable accidents in the mines. Thirty-eight-year-old Dalbir Singh lost his eyes in an accident while working in a mine in Khanak, a village in Tosham area of Bhiwani district of Haryana. "After I lost my eyes, I was kicked out of my job. I have six children. I am very worried about our future. Now, I do odd jobs here and there to survive," says Dalbir. Another labourer Bahadur Singh is unemployed at 22 after he lost one eye when a stone burst through his eyeball. Exploitation of labour is a norm in the mines of Haryana and hundreds of children can be spotted working day and night in these mines. But a nexus among Haryana politicians, mine owners and contractors has meant that no one is punished for this. No one is, because the administration too is a part of the unholy nexus. The district administration for instance, refused to give release certificates for the 114 who were rescued. The certificate would have been proof of the fact that the archaic practice of bonded labour is still thriving. It would also have forced the state government to give Rs 20,000 each as rehabilitation expenses. Of this amount, half is given by the Central government but since 1993, Haryana has not issued a single release certificate. In the last five years alone, Bachpan Bachao Andolan has rescued 1,000 bonded workers but, says its general secretary RS Chaurasia, "The state government seems to think that bonded means someone who is literally chained at their feet." Release certificates would go a long way in offering respite. The certificate entitles workers to allotment of a house on priority through the Indira Awas Yojna, admission in schools for children and a monthly pension of Rs 100. Labour and safety laws are, in fact, being violated in connivance with the government. All mine owners are supposed to keep basic records like wage registers, attendance registers, leave registers, accident and medical records. No mine in Haryana's Bhiwani district, however, has maintained any record. Nor have the mandatory identity cards been issued to the wage earners. On the contrary, the owners keep a strict eye on their slaves, ensuring that they don't run away. They are allowed to go on leave only when they leave some family members behind. Most of the labourers in these mines are migrants from Bihar, UP, Uttaranchal and Rajasthan. Agents of the contractors in these states lure them to the mines by promising them a better future. Once they reach here, the contractors give them advance payments on which they charge interest. Perennial penury would have it that most of them get into the debt trap of the contractors and end up as bonded slaves working for extremely low wages. In Khanak alone, more than 350 labourers reportedly died during mining activities in the past nine years in separate accidents. "In 2001, following several incidents of deaths in the mines, the labourers launched a movement demanding safe working conditions and an end to exploitation, but the police crushed their voices," says Vijay Pal, a labour leader. While there are a number of laws protecting the rights of labourers and providing them safe working
[Assam] Assam Srength
Dear Assamese Diaspora The strength of the Assamese is that they feel about Assam, express concern about Assam and talk big about Assam only after leaving their beloved state for greener pasture and then spend one hour each day trying to improve Assam through Internet from their air conditioned room, eating Hamburger or KFC. The weakness is that they see everything forign is very good. I am inviting the Assamese diaspora.. Come back, fight the heat and dust and then express your love and work for Assam. If you can not stop thinking about Assam. Do something rater than wasting your energy blogging. When you talk of pebicite or self rule, I feel pity for all of you beacsue you are still in Utopian dream of flying someday to new nation called Assam from New Jersy or New york. People will admire you if you collectively do something rather than wasting energy. Pitfully Assamese diaspora have always been thinking and behaving in the manner of aliens. I am awaiting a howl of protest from all of you. I welcome strong debate. Mrinal Talukdar Pub Sarania, Guwahati ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Assam Srength
I hear there is an extreme heat wave in Guwahati now :-) --- mrinal talukdar [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear Assamese Diaspora The strength of the Assamese is that they feel about Assam, express concern about Assam and talk big about Assam only after leaving their beloved state for greener pasture and then spend one hour each day trying to improve Assam through Internet from their air conditioned room, eating Hamburger or KFC. The weakness is that they see everything forign is very good. I am inviting the Assamese diaspora.. Come back, fight the heat and dust and then express your love and work for Assam. If you can not stop thinking about Assam. Do something rater than wasting your energy blogging. When you talk of pebicite or self rule, I feel pity for all of you beacsue you are still in Utopian dream of flying someday to new nation called Assam from New Jersy or New york. People will admire you if you collectively do something rather than wasting energy. Pitfully Assamese diaspora have always been thinking and behaving in the manner of aliens. I am awaiting a howl of protest from all of you. I welcome strong debate. Mrinal Talukdar Pub Sarania, Guwahati ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
