Saturday, October 30, 2010
Article: PLAINS KARBI BODIES ISSUE ULTIMATUM TO CENTRE
Report from the Assam Tribune brought to you by the Hindustan Times
GUWAHATI, April 5 -- The Assam Plains Karbi Adarbar and the Nagaon District Karbi Students Association on Thursday issued an ultimatum to the Central Government regarding their long-standing demand of including the Karbis living in the plain districts of Assam in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list. Ajit Kathar, general secretary of the Adarbar, and Puniram Timung, president of the student body, on Thursday said before media persons that if the Government failed to meet their demand by August this year, the Karbi community living in the plain districts of Assam would intensify their movement. Timung said that protest …
Protest against Azara Rly line survey work
Protest against Azara Rly line survey workStaff reporter
GUWAHATI, Aug 27 – Opposing the latest survey of the NF Railway in connection with the proposed railway line from Azara to Byrnihat, the villagers of Pamohi, Nawagao, Garoghuli, Ahomgaon, Dhalbama, Katakipara and Mainakhurung under Ramcharani Mouza and Azara police station staged a demonstration on Wednesday at Gorchuk demanding of the authorities to execute the project as per the first survey. It may be mentioned here that as per the first survey of the railway authorities, the proposed line was to pass through paddy fields mostly owned by the indigenous people.
The Pub Ramcharani Village Protection Committee which is leading the protest programme said that the villagers had no objection to the first survey as the residences and the areas considered sacrosanct by the indigenous people were not affected.
“But the railway authorities have conducted a second survey proposing to divert the line through residential areas inhabited by around 5000 tribal people,” said Dhiren Ingti, president of the Committee.
Ingti said that if the proposed railway line is executed on the basis of the latest survey, the poor and low income group tribal villagers will suffer heavily, the place of laying the dead to final rest would be desecrated and the line will also pose a threat to the ecology.
According to the latest survey, the proposed line will pass through villages and forest reserves frequented by herds of elephants.
Warning that forceful eviction of indigenous people would create an unwanted situation, Ingti said that the Government should take intoconsideration the emotions and sentiments of the indigenous people if it wanted to avoid a Nandigram episode in the State.
Ingti further alleged that the latest survey was conducted to serve the interests of the capitalist class as the land purchased by these rich people would be affected if the proposed line was laid as per the first survey.
On the other hand, the Assam Plains Karbi Adarbar has extended support to the Committee and has demanded of the authorities to cancel the latest survey.
In a communiqué issued to the press, secretary of the Assam Plains Karbi Adarbar Ajit Kathar said that a conspiracy was afoot to dislodge the indigenous people from their own land.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=aug2808/at08
GUWAHATI, Aug 27 – Opposing the latest survey of the NF Railway in connection with the proposed railway line from Azara to Byrnihat, the villagers of Pamohi, Nawagao, Garoghuli, Ahomgaon, Dhalbama, Katakipara and Mainakhurung under Ramcharani Mouza and Azara police station staged a demonstration on Wednesday at Gorchuk demanding of the authorities to execute the project as per the first survey. It may be mentioned here that as per the first survey of the railway authorities, the proposed line was to pass through paddy fields mostly owned by the indigenous people.
The Pub Ramcharani Village Protection Committee which is leading the protest programme said that the villagers had no objection to the first survey as the residences and the areas considered sacrosanct by the indigenous people were not affected.
“But the railway authorities have conducted a second survey proposing to divert the line through residential areas inhabited by around 5000 tribal people,” said Dhiren Ingti, president of the Committee.
Ingti said that if the proposed railway line is executed on the basis of the latest survey, the poor and low income group tribal villagers will suffer heavily, the place of laying the dead to final rest would be desecrated and the line will also pose a threat to the ecology.
According to the latest survey, the proposed line will pass through villages and forest reserves frequented by herds of elephants.
Warning that forceful eviction of indigenous people would create an unwanted situation, Ingti said that the Government should take intoconsideration the emotions and sentiments of the indigenous people if it wanted to avoid a Nandigram episode in the State.
Ingti further alleged that the latest survey was conducted to serve the interests of the capitalist class as the land purchased by these rich people would be affected if the proposed line was laid as per the first survey.
On the other hand, the Assam Plains Karbi Adarbar has extended support to the Committee and has demanded of the authorities to cancel the latest survey.
In a communiqué issued to the press, secretary of the Assam Plains Karbi Adarbar Ajit Kathar said that a conspiracy was afoot to dislodge the indigenous people from their own land.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=aug2808/at08
Cong manifesto miffs plains Karbis
Cong manifesto miffs plains KarbisStaff Reporter
GUWAHATI, April 6 – Those members of the Karbi community who live in the plains area of the State have been miffed by the poll manifesto of the ruling Congress which promises an Amri Karbi Development Council.
Several organisations of Guwahati, including the Assam Plains Karbi Adarbar, Karbi Students’ Union, Karbi Bangthe Asem and Karbi Arlos Asem while expressing their astonishment at the Congress assurance said that it was another attempt of the ruling party to bring division among the Karbi community.
It needs to be mentioned here that these organisations have been demanding a development council and ST status for the Karbi people living in the plains.
“The plains Karbis have been deprived of their rights and now there is an attempt to divide the Karbis,” said Ajit Kathar, general secretary of the Assam Plains Karbi Adarbar.
Kathar further said that long back the Karbis were mainly concentrated in four areas and one of the areas was Amri, now in present Karbi Anglong. A section of Karbis who came from Amri to the plains identify themselves as Amri Karbi.
“The plains Karbis will never accept a development council in the name of Amri Karbis,” said Kathar adding that those doing politics in the name of Amri Karbis were completely under the control of the Christian missionaries.
The Karbi people seemed to be quite disappointed with the ruling Congress for its alleged breach of promise to the Karbi community.
“In 2004 parliamentary elections also, the State Congress manifesto had promised to take up the issue of ST status to the plains Karbis. But till date, the plains Karbis have been deprived of constitutional safeguards,” lamented Kathar.
Issuing a note of warning to the Congress, the organisations said that the plains Karbis would cast their votes for the party that will fulfil their aspirations.
A Bangthe, a Karbi traditional chief from Pamohi Mainakhurung village on the outskirts of the city said that the political parties are not concerned about the needs of the common people and candidly expressed that not party but a clean administration mattered to the general people. Bangthe called upon the government to concede to the demands of the plains Karbis.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=apr0709/City
Friday, October 29, 2010
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