C'da Below is part 4 of what you had written. Will try and attempt to respond to some of the things you raise here. I have kept the cut& paste stuff together as much as possible and to avoid accusations of 'cherry picking' and 'out of context'. :)
** Successive Assam govts' management of the state's affairs have been a
dismal failure as has been abundantly >clear for decades on end. And it must be radically reoriented to be effective and responsive. You are correct, and correct maybe even in some of the reason why the GOA has been ineffective.
** Neither of the above can happen unless Assam is freed of Indian controls
. Don't agree with that. What makes you think that politicians/people in Assam will suddenly change - just because there is a new sheriff in town?
Question now is WHAt and HOW.
That is exactly correct. Look forward to reading the What in this part and the How in the next. >1: We all will be in agreement I like to think, that a truly democratic, secular
system, backed up by a new constitution created with the advice and consent
of ALL of its people will be >required and one that will build in protection for minority rights--be it linguistic or be it cultural/ethnic. There will
be a strong wall to separate the government from RELIGIOUS issues.
Forgive me C'da - but is this something NEW? The Indian Constitution already has these provisions and safeguards. Remember, I am just talking about whether there are provisions for these. You would like them for Assam, all I am saying, is that they already exist. >An electoral system will have to be devised to allow real participation by people in sending the most capable >person to represent them in their governance. Hope against hope - even the US and the UK have had problems in sending the "most capable" persons to represent. It may be a wish list for all, but the problem is this darn Democracy is such, that whoever you think is right, the next person may think wrong - hence the problem.
Elections must be issue based.
Has that worked in the US - with all the safeguards, etc, etc? If so, how did the wrong guys get elected - twice in a row? If not, how are you going to assure better results in Assam?
Provisions must be created for REAL local self-government,
And somthing called the Panchayat doesn't exist in India? All the rules, provisions etc are also written in the Panchayat Raj system in India. But maybe in the "HOW" part you are going to tell us how you are going to make all this work in an independent Assam . C'da - I read the rest below. Basically, as I said before it is wish list. Nothing wrong with that. You have removed some of the things that you think are wrong with the present Indian system, and interjected new ones - with a healthy dose from the American system. A few more things I would like to touch upon.
Non-aggression treaties will be entered into with ALL neighbors. If need be
additional treaties and/or mutually >beneficial arrangements with major world powers like the USA, China and India will be entered into. C'da, I am no geo-political guru. But from what I am seeing - B'desh has been actively participating in subversive activities in Assam. Its people migrate into Assam with impunity, Pakistan and India get into frequent problems. And ALL these countries are supposedly at peace. Now, let us for a moment look at your scenario. Assume Assam has its independence, presumably with the help of the ISI and B'desh intel and forces. Assume again India is forced to give up Assam and Assam is free. What makes you think a hostile India will be be willing to sign "non-agression" treaties? What makes you think B'desh will sign some treat with you, but also make sure its population is NOTwell-entrenched in Assam? And lastly what makes you think a 'not-so-happy' India will NOT do anything in its power to undermine Assam, But then we are dreaming, aren't we? >5: Assam will form a federation with neighbouring autonomous/independent entities of Nagaland, Manipur, >Mizoram, the Khasis, the Garos, the Jayantias and other ethnic brethren from what used to constitute Indian
provinces of Meghalya and Arunachal. They will become fellow travelers with
Assam seeking their place in the >twenty-first century world, sharing and prospering as co-equal partners. Huh! I thought this independence movement was just for Assam. Its the whole NE. And of course,our Naga brothers and all the others will listen to whatever their Assamese brothers will tell them - regarding the border, encroachment etc. And everybody will live happily ever after, everyone singing Kumbaya ... I am all choked up.:)
A small military will be created, primarily for border protection.
I am dissapointed C'da. After all these years of badgering the GOI for their poor attempt to control the border, you now seem to pay scant attention to it. It almost seems like either you gave up protecting the border or really don't care that illegals B'deshis flooding the new country. Is this small military be bigger that the BSF presently at the border? Will they be 'ghoose free' (I mean, they won't let in a few hundreds now and then for a small bribe?). Will tacle the "How" later. But, I again appreciate the time you took to at least write down these things. I am not aware of any of the pro-independence people even make such an attempt. :) --Ram
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