Social Circus.....

Been thinking about the stalled Peace Process in Assam for a while now. For some time, it seemed that perhaps the ULFA would come round to the negotiating table for talks!!! The Army has resumed its operations against ULFA after the latter resumed its terror tactics (bomb blasts and extortions) in parts of Upper Assam. The Peoples Consultative Group (PCG) which proclaims to be a representative of the Civil Society is just a bunch of U*** hardliners....they do not represent the cause of the civil society or the masses of Assam.They seem to be taking an anti-government stance demanding the release of the top 5 jailed U*** leaders. In a nutshell what they are stating is that the U***'s recent terror tactics are justified because the government has not released the jailed leaders as yet!!! Its an absurd logic in the first place.Why should the government release them ? The bottom line is that U*** and the ilk are not willing to give up their cherished positions. They have amassed huge fortunes....they control most of the drug and small arms trade in the region.

I don't think the Government is serious about the problem either. Its all a Game to keep the money flowing in....in the name of counter-insurgency operations. There are just too many stakeholders .When they begin working in their own interest and when they begin to get swayed by the power of money, the ideological leanings are left far behind. They become opportunists...trying to make hay while the sun shines!!!

In trying to say all of this , I am not negating the fact that the region has faced neglect over the years and that there are REAL problems that have led to the emergence of these movements. But in the face of the current levels of corruption:political,ideolgical and social, I think its high time we evaluate the manner in which the State seeks to provide a solution!!!

There is a good report on Assam by the Centre for Policy Alternatives. The link is
given below:

http://www.cpasind.com/reports/13-Left-Behind-Case-Study-Assam.pdf

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