If I may butt in:
>If it has not been clear from my postings, I think I should make clear that I am not any kind of fan >of armed rebellion or civil violence. Personally, I am a strong believer in radical decentralization, >free market economy and liberal western-style democracy achieved through civil political >movement of the kind advocated by MK Gandhi and ML King.
I think most netters would support that
>About 30 - 40% of the people in Assam are, like me, Bongals (not Bengalis, but Bongals) and >almost all of them foresee nothing but ethnic cleansing out of an ULFA success. It is immaterial >why they feel that way, what is important is that they definitely do.
If such an ethinic cleansing could well be the result of an ULfa success it is difiicult for me to understand all the support and/or outpouring concern from intelligent people like C'da, yourself and MM da?
Could it be that the dislike/hatred for Indian governance or its policies is so acute that they would rather risk the lives of Bengalis (30-40% of the population) in an independent Assam?
At least under the GOI, bad as it is, these Bengalis are AT LEAST safe, wouldn't you say?
>Nationality building - trancending language - based on a vision of Assam as a salad bowl rather >than a melting pot - has a long long way to go. Just because we won't talk about the >contradictions between the ethnic groups, doesn't mean they will go away
Absolutely.
>Despite all this, it is important to have a process of negotiations between the GOI and the ULFA.
Yes it is. But, reading some of newspapers yesterday and today, it seems that Delhi is trying very hard to keep its cool. They are not happy that ULFA would, at this point of the game, engage in extortions and bombing (of a pipeline or something).
If the GOI and the ULfa (and the PCG) are serious about negotiations then they must all ensure that the atmosphere is conducive for such negotiations, otherwise it may actually take another 25 years or so to reach some sort of settlement.
.
On 1/21/06, Roy, Santanu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Dear Mayur:
If it has not been clear from my postings, I think I should make clear that I am not any kind of fan of armed rebellion or civil violence. Personally, I am a strong believer in radical decentralization, free market economy and liberal western-style democracy achieved through civil political movement of the kind advocated by MK Gandhi and ML King. I also believe that means are as important as the ends. I understand there are times when people may have to take up arms to defend their rights, but it cannot be the basis of any kind of long term social change. Parag, as I knew him closely till 1985, would certainly have agreed. If Assam is to have its own destiny, apart from being a loose appendage of the Indian society, entitled to its meagre trickle down that hardly transcends the chicken neck, then it needs emerge as a political nationality that goes beyond ethnic division and have a vision of a future society that is realistic and promising. I don't know when that will happen.
About 30 - 40% of the people in Assam are, like me, Bongals (not Bengalis, but Bongals) and almost all of them foresee nothing but ethnic cleansing out of an ULFA success. It is immaterial why they feel that way, what is important is that they definitely do. A vast majority of the supporters of ULFA think, as an important netter recently clarified, "Assamese is a language, not a religion". Nationality building - trancending language - based on a vision of Assam as a salad bowl rather than a melting pot - has a long long way to go. Just because we won't talk about the contradictions between the ethnic groups, doesn't mean they will go away.
Despite all this, it is important to have a process of negotiations between the GOI and the ULFA. First, it puts the agenda on the table reminding mainland India about the issues. Second, it politicises the ordinary people in Assam. Third, it offers a hope that somehow there may be truce some day that will allow breathing room for a more meaningful nation building to emerge. It is important to support this process and to encourage it. And it is important to support human rights of all people.
Santanu-da.
-----Original Message-----
From: mayur bora [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Sat 1/21/2006 9:45 PM
To: Roy, Santanu
Cc: Assam Organisation
Subject: Agradoot News Item 2
Is this a small step or a giant leap towards a better,
brighter and stronger Assam ?
For me, it is clearly a reprehensible step.
I am not for status quo. But alternative to the status
quo must have the promise of a better tomorrow. I can
see a glimmer of hope in the overground mass movement
you mentioned a few days back in assamnet. If we can
have such kind of movement (like Assam Agitation in
the past), then we don't need any armed rebellion
against the state.
Parag da trenchantly criticised ULFA's excessive
emphasis on arms and money during their heydeys.
Ultras did not pay any heed. We have seen the results
now. After his brutal murder in Guwahati, they
announced that the killers and conspirators have been
identified and will be punished soon. Not to speak of
the punishment, they have not named anyone till now
apart from dishing out some usual vague staff. My
disillusionment and serious doubt about their
capability to bring about anything good for the state
is neither very old nor very sudden. It has developed
over a period of time which coincided with their fast
becoming a group of people without any genuine concern
for the state. They dreamt something big and rosy,
strived towards it, sensed it is unattainable soon but
unfortunately did not adopt any other alternative
method to end the status quo. This clearly shows their
unwillingness to learn from the past and result is
visible for everyone.
Mayur
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