Watch out: They(Indian "Adivasis") may not agree to be called Aborigines(Australian-or Andaman /Nicobaris). Bodos are of course Assam's First Nation. Most of us are descendants of the Bodo Race. Who are these Intellectuals-anyway? mm
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Fri, 7 Dec 2007 04:11:28 +0000Subject: [asom] Aboriginal tribals disheartened Vs Tea Tribes Aboriginal tribals disheartenedKOKRAJHAR, Dec 6: A section of Bodo intellectuals and former Bodoland movement leaders observed that the voice of Asomiya intellectuals in support of Adivasis has been disheartening for the aboriginal tribals of the State, such as Bodos.In an interview with The Sentinel, former ABSU leader and co-worker of Bodofa UN Brahma, DD Narzary said the Asomiya intellectuals always claimed the outsiders and immigrants of other countries as “Asomiyas”, forgetting the indigenous people of the State. He said the successive State Governments have sympathized wish of outsiders overlooking tribes like Bodos. The intellectuals of the State are not serious about the killings of indigenous people, human rights violations, gang rape on tribal women and molestation for which justice has not been done. He questioned why leaders like AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharyya refrained from calling Bodos and other indigenous people of Asom as Asomiya whereas they do not hesitate to call a Santhali girl as Asomiya. He expressed fear and apprehension that the State Government and Asomiya intellectuals would be bound to lend their voice to the new ST demand.Narzary strongly opposed the granting of ST status to six communities saying that the communities are well advanced in all respects and they have been enjoying political rights and advantages. He said both Adivasis and Rajbongshis have Cabinet ministers and good number of legislators in the Assam Assembly since long, but the indigenous tribals do not have such advantages. He also cautioned both Delhi and Dispur that the tribal would not be responsible for another unrest in the region.MP SK Bwiswmuthiary, while speaking The Sentinel from New Delhi, said the granting ST status to outsiders will not only affect the Bodos and other tribals, but also the Asomiyas as a whole will lose their rights.“There will be a new power equation in the State politics if new communities are included in the ST list. Political power will not go to the hands of genuine Asomiya people because power sharing by outsiders will bring a drastic change in the political scenario of the State,” Bwiswmuthiary said.The MP asked the Government of India and Government of Asom to announce the policy of reorganization of the State on a “federal” plan before granting ST status to the six-communities, saying that the process of “Balkanization” is yet to be completed.Former president of KDC, ABWWF, Ms Maloti Rani Narzary, in an interview with The Sentinel, said the tribals of the State are deprived of all facilities and rights. Both the Centre and the State Government, instead of fulfilling the demands of the tribal people, are going to accord ST status to the six communities ignoring strong opposition from indigenous tribal groups. She also attacked the AGP saying that the party opposed the inclusion of more communities in the ST list during PK Mahanta’s rule, but the party is now favouring ST status to the six communities. This is political opportunism, she said.President of All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) Ranjit Kumar Borgoyary told The Sentinel that the Sangha had no option other than launching a vigorous movement comprising all tribal people of Asom. He accused the State Government for its failure to protect the tribal belts and blocks, without filling the back log posts lying vacant for many years.Working president of Federation of Bodo Youth (FBY) Jangshisu Brahma told The Sentinel that the federation would oppose the inclusion of six communities into the ST list at any cost and that the tribals would be adversely affected by the new ST formula for six communities.We won’t allow Tea Tribes to get ST status: Tribal SanghaGUWAHATI, Dec 6: The crisis over the issue of ST status to the six communities of the State appears to be deepening as seven tribal organizations, including the All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS), have today made it clear that under no circumstances they will allow ST status to the Tea Tribe community. The organizations have opposed the move to extend the ST list as they believe it will jeopardize the interests and political rights of the existing tribal population of the State.Terming the fresh move on the part of the State Government to recommend ST status for Tea Tribes to the Centre as a political game of Dispur ahead of the panchayat polls, AATS general secretary Aditya Khakhlari, while talking to the press here, said: “We won’t sit idle if the interests of the STs in the State are affected.”The leaders of the All Assam Tribal Youth League, Federation of Bodo Youths, All Tiwa Students’ Association, Deuri Students’ Association, Karbi Students’ Association and the Dimasa Students’ Union were also present at the press conference. Khakhlari said the Beltola incident that was triggered by the unruly behaviour of the Adivasi activists was, in fact, a conspiracy on the part of the State Government. He said, despite Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s statement in Parliament that the Tea Tribes of Asom have lost their tribal characteristics, the State Government is taking a fresh initiative to recognize the community as ST so as to garner votes. Even most of the political parties and organizations, including AASU, are trying to appease the Tea Tribes by ignoring the interest of the indigenous people of Asom, he added.“When the Karbis, Man and Tai-speaking people in plain areas and Bodos in the hill areas are not yet recognized as STs, how can Tea Tribes, who came to Asom from other States, get ST status?” Khakhlari questioned. On the demand for ST status from other indigenous communities like the Koch-Rajbongshis and Tai-Ahoms, Khakhlari said the Traibal Sangha wants a fresh revision of the ST List. According to him, the communities, who would get ST status, have to fulfil five criteria —indication of primitive traits, geographical isolation, lack of contact with other communities, distinctive culture, and backwardness.It may be mentioned here that tribal leaders of the State want economic package for the six communities instead of according them ST status. They also rejected the alternative formula to shift the existing 27 per cent of OBC quota to ST quota by including the six agitating communities in the ST list.The seven organizations will observe their demand day on December 17 by submitting memorandum to the Chief Minister through DCs and SDOs. http://www.sentinelassam.com__._,_.___ Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls MARKETPLACE Earn your degree in as few as 2 years - Advance your career with an AS, BS, MS degree - College-Finder.net. Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! 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