GANGTOK, October 15: A massive quake could hit the entire Northeastern belt of the country any time now as no release of energy had taken place in the nature for the last 250 to 300 years in the Assam region, a senior geologist has warned. The quake, occurrence of which could not be predicted, would be severe for the entire belt if it took place at an upper crust of the earth, the scientist in-charge of the Central GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Ekalavya Sharma, said here. Although energy was being 'released' by the nature during 1951 when a quake rocked Darjeeling and its adjoining areas, the 'Assam gap' was still there, posing a danger to the entire region, Sharma said while addressing a seminar on the occasion of 'World Disaster Reduction Day' organised by the Sikkim land revenue department and Lions Club of greater Gangtok. In the event of such a quake, landmass could move up to 10 metres with a devastating effect on the region, he said. The Himalayas were rising 5.6 cm per year and consequently the peninsular Indian mass was moving towards the Tibetan Plateau which, according to Sharma could be attributed to the cause of the quake. (PTI; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; October 16, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 22: The issue of inclusion of Majuli, the largest fresh water island on earth, in the list of World Heritage Sites, was raised emphatically by the Assam government in the recently concluded preparatory meeting for the international conference on world heritage scheduled for May next year in Japan. The commissioner and secretary, planning and culture, Himangshu Shekar Das, represented the state government in the preparatory meeting of the said international conference, held at Kagoshima in Japan. According to knowledgeable circles here, Das made a detailed presentation about the importance and fitness of Majuli for designation as a World Heritage Site, both as a site of natural as well as cultural importance for the world community. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; October 23, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 22: Foreign experts in Dermatology sitting as chairman and co-chairman in the scientific session of the first South Asian Conference of Dermatology (SARCD), held at Kathmandu recently, recommended with high appreciation the new treatment of oral ulcer (Aphthous ulcer of mouth cavity) by BR Baishya, a young dermatologist of Assam. The experts asked the attending delegates (dermatologists) of SAARC countries and other countries to try this new ointment therapy discovered by Baishya. Baishya got a special preference to present another paper on so-called 'white spot' in the skin (medically known as Vitiligo), in there conference. The paper titled 'A new cheap effective therapeutic approach in managing a case of vitiligo', explained how better result can be achieved by combining modern medical treatment and ancient Indian system of non-pharmacological method (yoga) in a new technology to cure some difficult cases of vitiligo and early cases of vitiligo without any relapse. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; October 23, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 23: Prime candidate for next giant earthquake is ... Assam, India, says seismologists world over. Why? -- Because, India's northern border is marked by the Himalayas, which is heaving skyward by a geological plate collision. This plate collision, also known as plate convergence, results in earthquakes which may at times prove disastrous. Assam and the Northeast region of India has a record of great earthquakes returning to it after a gap of about 50 years. The latest big earthquake of the magnitude of 8.5 on the richter scale that rocked the region, occurred on August 15, 1950. This was one of the disastrous earthquakes in history. Before the 1950 earthquake, an earthquake of the magnitude of 8.7 on the richter scale rocked this north eastern part of the country in June 1897. Due to this earthquake, 1547 persons were killed in the region and destruction of stone buildings was almost universal in Shillong, Goalpara, Guwahati, Nagaon and Sylhet. The 1950 earthquake resulted in landslides also, leading to 156 casualties and 532 casualties also resulted from the consequent flood. The damage and destruction of structures and loss of life during these two earthquakes in the region, was considerably less due to the seismo-friendly structures and low population. But, in the event of a similar occurrence, damage to structures and loss of life today will be awe-striking in the region, fear members of the scientific community who are engaged in the study of seismology. The intensity of the 1897 earthquake was such that it levelled every stone or brick house in an area of 10,000 square miles (i.e. 15,000 square kilometres)! An earthquake of lesser magnitude, -- that is, 7.2 on the richter scale in Kobe, Japan, in 1995 collapsed railroads, crumbled highways and damaged police and fire stations. Some 5,502 people were killed, another 40,000 injured, 300 fires broke out and nearly 4 lakh houses were damaged, while water, gas, electricity and phone services were also destroyed by this earthquake. The reason behind all these were cited to be the increase in population and people acquiring more things -- property, that too being quite oblivious of the seismic factors. Kobe earthquake is regarded to be the 'most expensive' earthquake in history. According to Discovery online, there are two spots on the globe that seismologists watch with a mixture of anticipation and dread. One is on the coast of northern Chile. There were massive earthquakes there in the 1800s, says Bill Spence the National Earthquake Information Centre in Colorado -- and only an ominous silence since then. Continuing, the Discovery online goes, the other hot spot is in the tectonic -plate traffic jam southeast of Tokyo, Japan. A stretch of the plate boundary is due, according to statistics, to snap any time. The proximity of this time bomb to a huge city makes the wait more worrisome. Although these two spots attract the most attention and tension, any place that has hosted a great earthquake (magnitude 8.0 or greater) in the past is a candidate for a future spasm, observed the Discovery people. NE region, particularly Assam, has been attracting the attention of the seismologists as a seismically vulnerable area for quite long time. Seismologists' anticipation are also growing with the increasing frequency of minor tremors that have been rocking the region for the past one or two decades. And the first scientific formulation of this doubt was made public in several international seminars and forums by seismologist Surya Kanta Sarma, the former Head of the Deparment of Environmental Science, Gauhati University, in the early part of the current decade. (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; October 24, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 24: At a time when efforts are on to curb the growing drugs menace, opium smuggling poses a threat to Assam and other parts of the region. According to official sources, since 1986, the Customs department has confiscated over 800 kgs of opium in different parts of the state. The sources said that opium has a good demand in Upper Assam and it is sold at exorbitant prices. "During our anti-smuggling operations several seizures were made in Upper Assam and the Beltola area of the city," the sources added. Giving details about the smuggling, they revealed that opium is smuggled mainly from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh then sold at various parts of the region. Smugglers use trucks as safe carriers and sometimes they use youths to send their consignment to the hilly areas they said, adding that the smugglers have a good network in Shillong, Dimapur and Manipur for expanding their business. The sources said that of late Indo-Myanmar border has become a hotbed of the smugglers. Taking advantage of terrain, they are accelerating the business in the area. During the last year a huge seizure was made along the Indo-Myanmar border, the sources added. They also stated that opium is smuggled from Arunachal Pradesh as there are large scale poppy cultivation in Lohit, Shanglong and Tirap districts of the state. Last year several bighas of poppy were destroyed in these districts by the concerned authorities, but due to prevailing terrain, the anti-smuggling departments are facing hardships to completely destroy the crops. "Poppy cultivation has been a traditional practice in the border districts of the state, hence we are facing problem to convince the people about the menace," they said. Meanwhile, in view of growing opium consumption and smuggling, the Customs department has activated the anti-smuggling units throughout the region. The sources said that modern equipment have been provided to contain the activities. They said that the department is keeping close watch on some pockets in the state to prevent smuggling. "The Indo-Bhutan border is very sensitive due to the militancy, and as a result of which, anti-smuggling operations have been affected," the sources added. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; October 25, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 24: While widespread concern has been expressed by seismologists all over the world about the possibility of a massive earthquake in NE region, former vice-chancellor of Gauhati University and a reputed teacher in Civil Engineering, Nirmal Kumar Chowdhury, sounded a note of solace today, saying the damage from an earthquake depends on the location of the epicentre as well as the magnitude of the earthquake. However, renowned geographer as well as Professor and Head of the Department, Environmental Science, Gauhati University (GU), Dulal Chandra Goswami, said, commenting on the social behaviour of the people, that because of "our erroneous conduct in regard to our way of life, we are in a sense erecting the welcome arch for a massive disaster in the event of a massive earthquake in the region." But Chowdhury maintained that by and large the Indian Standard Code of Practice (IS Code) in designing and constructing the structures, has been followed in our state and in Guwahati city. Moreover, one good thing in Assam is that most of the multi-storey buildings have been designed and constructed with reinforced concrete-framed structures. Such buildings are more earthquake-resistant, Chowdhury said. Commenting on the impact of the location of the epicentre and the magnitude of the earthquake on life and property, Chowdhury said that the 1950 earthquake did not cause much damage in the lower Assam areas, whereas, the 1897 earthquake of almost equal magnitude caused widespread damage in lower Assam areas and Meghalaya because of the location of the epicentre. It may be mentioned here that the June 12, 1897 earthquake, known as the Great Assam Earthquake, had its epicentre located in the Shillong plateau. It had the magnitude of 8.7 on the Richter scale and altogether 1542 persons were reported killed in the earthquake, while destruction of stone buildings was almost universal in Shillong, Goalpara, Guwahati, Nagaon and Sylhet. The August 15, 1950 earthquake of the magnitude of 8.5 on the Richter scale, had its epicentre located at 28.460 North and 96.660 East, that is, near Sadiya in Upper Assam. It is also known as 'one of the disastrous earthquakes in history'. The earthquake and landslide accompanying it, resulted in 156 casualties, while the consequent floods led to 532 casualties, said the official records. But, both Choudhury and Goswami are of the same view that an all-out preparedness should be there to face the disaster and minimise the loss. While Chowdhury said that masonry (brick and stone works) construction is not at all advisable in earthquake-prone areas like Assam, and, IS Code should be followed in toto while designing and constructing buildings etc., as part of the preparedness, Goswami maintained that we can mend our ways of adapting to the hazards by being more vigilant and careful in our approaches towards handling our ecosystem and in our social behaviour. We shall be more concerned about the environment and the life around us. What is more needed today is not a bunch of toothless laws relating to environment conservation, but an all-out concern and regard for the all-pervading laws of nature, said Goswami. Though there exists high probability of the occurrence of a great earthquake in the NE region in the near future, seismologists here regret that there is no institutional preparedness. The governmental response to the demand for setting up denser network of meteorological as well as seismological observatories in the region is also not at all encouraging, they maintain. The history of seismicity of the region for the past 200 years shows that the region experienced several earthquakes that caused widespread damages. Notable among these are -- the Cachar Earthquake of January 10, 1869 (magnitude 7.5 on the Richter scale), the Great Assam Earthquake of June 12, 1897 (magnitude 8.7), the Shrimangal Earthquake of July 8, 1918 (magnitude 7.6), the Jaintia Hills Earthquake of September 9, 1923 (magnitude 7.8), the Assam Earthquake of August 15, 1950 (magnitude 8.5) and the Manipur-Burma Earthquake of May 6, 1994 (magnitude 6.6). In addition to these, earthquakes of lesser magnitude occur in the region almost every year. Thus, seismicity of this region is dominated by the occurrence of major and minor earthquakes at random interval of time, the seismologists observed. (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; October 25, 1999)

GOLAGHAT, October 24: Forests of Golaghat district are facing depletion. Roads, along which trees were once lined, now look bare due to rampant timber smuggling. Timber smuggling has taken its toll on the entire area of Nambor and Tengani Reserved Forests on the Assam-Nagaland border. In Golaghat district, till a couple of years ago, huge swathes of trees, planted during the pre-independence time, would stand clustered proudly on both sides of the highway. These used to not only protect the roads from erosion but also considered important for ecological balance. But over the past few years, the area has started to wear a barren look. The number of trees is rapidly declining. People watch the plunder of the greens helplessly. The administration chooses to turn a blind eye and the mafia are having a field day. NGOs, students' organisations and forest officials are found wanting in initiatives for protection and preservation of forest products. Forest areas of Golaghat district are spread over an area of more than 39,687 hectares. Destruction of forest resources, smuggling and encroachment in Garampani, Numbor and Tengani Reserve Forests has become a regular feature. People of Golaghat have demanded the district administration to take steps against the smugglers and encroachers. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; October 25, 1999)

GOLAKGANJ, October 26: A unique Indo-Bangla border trade - transferring citizens of Bangladesh to India - is fast picking up. In fact, this business is the source of livelihood to many who enable foreigners to come into India through the porous Dhubri border. The people who are involved in this trade are locally known as dalals for Bangladeshis, and they reportedly charge Rs 200 to Rs 500 per person. Police sources revealed that on September 1, Dhubri police apprehended 11 Bangladeshi citizens from Newghat area of Dhubri main town. They also revealed that one Samad Ali of Motir char area of Dhubri district was involved in the racket. Ali has, however, managed to evade arrest and is absconding. According to the police, citizens of Bangladesh, come to India mainly to work as labourers. Their entry points are South Salmara, Mankachar, Boxirhat-Srirampur checkpost, Bhogdanga, and Newghat area. Sources also revealed that a stretch of 260 km from pillar 1001 to pillar 1067 on the Indo-Bangla border in Dhubri district is the main entry point for the foreigners. Trans-border illegal business in kerosene, salt, sugar and biscuits from Dhubri main town to Bangladesh is also on the rise with smugglers having a field day. On the other hand, the international trade in the skins of animals has picked up. New markets are emerging, and all these facts are documented in reports. International trade recorded an 85 per cent drop between 1985 and 1990. Being softer and more workable, the skin of an animal of Dhubri commands a higher price in the Bangladeshi market. Dhubri, the western part of Assam, in now being overrun by the Bangladeshis who are perpetually crossing over. Interestingly, political leaders of the district have refused take a stand on the issue, because it might ruin their "votebank", it is alleged. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; October 27, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 27: Damage to life and property in case of an earthquake depends on the magnitude, epicentral distance, depth of focus (that is, the depth of occurrence of the earthquake), soil condition and the quality of constructions, said renowned seismologist Surya Kanta Sarmah here while talking to The Assam Tribune. Sarmah, the founder Head of the Department of Environmental Science of the Gauhati University (GU), who did his Ph.D. from the Oregon state University, USA, in 1966 specialising in Seismology, said that even a high-magnitude earthquake causes less damage if its depth of focus is deeper. Several high-magnitude earthquakes in the vicinity of Japan caused less damage to life and property because of the greater depth of focus, he reasoned. It is worth mentioning here that Sarmah, who retired as the Professor and Head of the Department, Environmental Science, GU in 1994, predicted in 1988 that there was the probability of a major earthquake in the NE region before 2010 AD. The methods applied by Sarmah to arrive at the conclusion were the study of the history of seismocity, extreme value methods, least square method and the use of strain release method, among others. His prediction first appeared in the 'Earthquake prediction: Present Status, Symposium Volume', published by the University of Poona in August 1988. Sarmah's conclusion was that a massive earthquake of the magnitude of greater than eight on the Richter scale was in the store for the NE region of India, which may face the event at anytime before 2010 AD. However, today, some senior Geologists engaged in field works, particularly in the field of seismo-tectonic, are differing with Sarmah's views. Talking to The Assam Tribune, Senior Geologist Kiran Mazumdar, who is working in the field of seismo-tectonic, said that all predictions made so far on the probability of a major earthquake in the NE region are mostly based on simple mathematical calculations (that is, empirical). All these calculations have limitations, or, constraints as the physical behaviour of specific sites are not incorporated in practical sense, he said. Moreover, any statistical data interpretation may have linearity in their expression, which is never reflected in terms of physical behaviour of the earth crust, which is variable in space and time, Mazumdar added. But, Sarmah maintains that the amount of strain energy to be stored for earthquakes of magnitude 8.9 in NE region will reach its optimum level by 2010 AD. For, Sarmah reasons, beyond that earth materials can not withstand the strain load being accumulated within them. Hence, a major earthquake of the magnitude of over eight on the Richter scale, is in the making in the region, Sarmah said. He also said that his research works led him to conclude that the same earthquake may occur in the western part of NE India. Epicentral factor: Sarmah is however of the view that the recorded major earthquakes of the region are shallow focus earthquakes, that is, the depth of these earthquakes did not go below 33 km. And due to this reason, he said, damage caused by these earthquakes were more. RD Oldham, the father of modern Seismology, was, however, a little confused about the depth of focus of the 1897 Great Assam Earthquake. Its depth was later calculated by Sarmah and his students in the eighties and was found to be at within 30 km below the surface. The high magnitude earthquakes are generally multi-focus events, said Sarmah, adding, there are reasons to believe that the 1897 earthquake was also a multi-focus event with its foci at Chedrang (in Garo Hills), Bardwar near Lahorghat in Kamrup district and in the erstwhile Goalpara-Kamrup region. Soil condition: Maximum damage was reported in 1897 from Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills and from the alluvial Brahmaputra valley region of western Assam, Sarmah said. This was because of the fact that fissure, landslip, landslide occur where the soil is loose and sandy. Soil liquifaction is also a factor which may contribute to the damage despite good construction works over the ground, said Sarmah. Massive deforestation may also contribute to landslides as was found in the case of Chamoli Earthquake of March 29, 1999 in North Western UP, Sarmah said. (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; October 28, 1999)

TEZPUR, October 28: The Tawang-Chu valley War Memorial, constructed by the Indian Army to cherish the memory of the martyrs of the 1962 Chinese aggression and to mark the fusion of military with the land and its people, will be dedicated to the nation on November 2. The representatives of the regiments which fought the battle will be present on the occasion as a symbol of the past while the present will be marked by the brave soldiers of today and the future, by a son of this sacred land. The Kameng frontier division of the erstwhile Northeast Frontier Agency (NEFA) roughly corresponds to the present Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. It had witnessed the bitterly fought battles of 1962 Sino-Indian conflict. Though the nation that time had to undergo a humbling experience but the same cannot be said of the gallant soldiers who set new milestones of valour. Against the most damning odds, soldiers fought with antique rifles, 50 rounds of ammunition and cotton uniforms but with a brave heart within. They stood their ground against the on-coming cohorts of the enemy and died with the guns blazing and with a bullet in the chest. The architectural design of the said war memorial is in harmony with local traditions and has a 40-foot high stupa from Namgyal Chortan. Religious beliefs have been followed in its construction, with 32 black granite plaques inscribing the names of 2376 dead warriors of the 1962 war. On both sides of the stupa two halls have been constructed of which one would house memorabilia of that war (personal articles of the dead warriors) and the other is meant to stage light and sound based on the deeds of heroism performed in the Sino-Indian war. On January 18, 1999 the construction of the war memorial was carried out by hundreds of monks with the active participation of the locals and government officials. In keeping with the local religious sentiments, idols of Lord Buddha, scriptures, ornaments, jewels, valuables and other items were deposited. The war memorial was even blessed by Dalai Lama, who sent holy scriptures and idols of Arya Avlokiteshwara and Lord Buddha personally blessed by him. These have been deposited in the vaults of the stupa. The memorial once dedicated will certainly be a pride of Tawang after the famous monastery and will not only remind the glory of brave acts of the heroes of 1962, but will touch the hearts of every visitor as at the base of the memorial it is written: "How can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his father and the temples of his Gods." (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; October 29, 1999)

NAGAON, October 30: At least seven Army personnel were killed and more than 50 others received injuries when an Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) bus collided with an Army vehicle near Samaguri in Nagaon district this morning. The driver of the ASTC bus (AS-20-0571) lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a curve on National Highway-37 at Sonaibali under Samaguri police station at around 9.30 a.m. and collided with an Army truck (9509816 UW). The bus was coming from Jorhat, while the Army truck was proceeding to Tenga in Arunachal Pradesh from Guwahati. Four Armymen died on the spot and three succumbed to their injuries on way to hospital. The driver of the bus is seriously injured in the accident and is battling for life at the Nagaon civil hospital where most of the injured passengers of the ASTC bus are being treated. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; October 31, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 30 : The Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, which has earned the distinction of being the world's most densely populated rhino habitat, is now gasping for survival. The 16 square km wildlife habitat, located nearly 50 km from the city, has 74 one-horned rhinos, more than 200 wild boars and a good number of wild buffaloes. "The sanctuary is too small to house so many animals and will have to be expanded immediately," forest officials said. "There is a chronic shortage of fodder and the rhinos often stray out in search of food," officials added. Moreover, thousands of domesticated animals trespass into the habitat every day. The state government, in a notification on March 17, last year had declared the inclusion of the Bura Mayong Reserve forest and some more areas into the Pobitora wildlife sanctuary. Once the proposed expansion takes place, the area of the habitat will be around 38 square km, officials said. "But, the revenue department has not yet handed over the government land," said Mrigen Baruah, ranger of the sanctuary. The 490.24 hectare stretch will connect Pobitora to the Bura Mayong reserve forest, he said. Baruah said once the habitat expands, the animals will get more space to move around. "Moreover, during the monsoon, the animals can take shelter in the hills of Bura Mayong and cases of drowning and poaching can also be minimised," he said. "If there are so many rhinos in such a small area, the incidence of breeding must also be very high," the ranger said. Members of the Asian Rhino Specialist Group (ARSG), who met at Kaziranga early this year, expressed concern over the density of rhino population at Pobitora. Vice-chairman SC Dey warned that the rhinos would have to be culled if the area of the habitat was not expanded. In a letter to the deputy commissioner, Morigaon on August 17, 1998, the divisional forest officer (wildlife), Nagaon, demanded immediate handing over of the government land to the wildlife sanctuary. The additional deputy commissioner, Morigaon, JD Lahkar, said the process of handing over the government land may take some more time. State forest minister Nagen Sarma told The Telegraph that they had written several letters to the revenue department and the Morigaon district administration for immediate handing over of land to the state forest department. "We hope the revenue department will clear the formalities at the earliest," he said, adding that the "corridor" which will connect the Pobitora wildlife sanctuary to the Bura Moyong reserve forest can bail out the authorities from chronic fodder scarcity. Sarma said some non-governmental organisations have been helping the sanctuary managers for the past couple of years. "They have provided sweaters, raincoats and jungle boots to our forest guards," he said. (Anirban Roy; The Telegraph, Calcutta; October 31, 1999)

AGARTALA, October 30: On February 10, 1998, when the Jumma rebels of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) under the banner of Shanti Bahini came overground en masse at Khagracherri Stadium shunning years old armed struggle against Bangladesh government, it was widely believed that ever-lasting peace would then dawn upon the hilly parts of the country. Solution to the problem was necessary for India, too, because as long as neighbouring CHT remained volatile, she had to feed thousands of Chakma refugees sheltered in Tripura and other parts of the Northeast. When the Awami League government came to power in Dhaka, peace accord with the ultras was signed as hopes ran high and strong. Even the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed was awarded with UNESCO Peace Prize. All about peace were said and done, but in reality, peace did never return to the CHT. In fact, the very essence of the accord signed on December 2, 1997 between the Pachatya Chottogram Jana Sanhati Samity (PCJSS), the political wing of the Bahini and Awami League government was belied by no other than the peace parties themselves. Now, the Jummas (CHT tribals) who dreamt of a strong elected regional council, evacuation of non-tribal Muslim settlers from their land and fulfilment of other agendas like withdrawal of military from the hills, are accusing their own PCJSS leaders of betrayal. The PCJSS top brass led by the Bahini chief Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, popularly known as Santu Larma, assumed power of the regional council in the CHT with high promises which he miserably failed to keep. Not only that, instead of going for an election to the council at the earliest as promised, Santu and his men are sitting tight and pretty on the power citadel for the last two years. Allegations of financial irregularities have also been levelled against the one-time extremists. Reports pouring in form the CHT here indicate that resentment runs high among the Chakma refugees who had repatriated to the CHT from their South Tripura camps in the wake of the government-rebel settlement. Neither the rehabilitation package announced by the government for them did materialise nor their lands captured by the non-tribals over the years at the direct instance of the previous tribal interest in the CHT and implement the assurances given during repatriations. The situation has been compounded by the fact that the military was not pulled out from the hill tracts and there are allegations of sporadic onslaughts of the tribals by them. On October 16 last, three tribals were gunned down by the Bangladesh Army at Balucherra market in Dihinala. The armed soldiers tried to harass tribal girls in the market which was protested by the youths. The soldiers opened fire killing three on the spot. The incident sparked off high tension in the area. Earlier on August 20, clashes erupted under Dighinala police station areas over rehabilitation issue. It was alleged by the tribals that 12 Chakma families returned from Tripura were not rehabilitated as promised and were languishing under the bare sky. The tension had a snowballing effect and angry mob attacked the house of Kalparanjan Chakma, Minister in-charge of CHT Affairs. Chakma was not at home at that moment and moment and escaped but the mob set afire his house. Once again on September 4 last in a clash between the Muslim settlers and Chakma in tribal areas in Rangamati, two tribal youths were killed. The incident triggered off vide violence and pitch fights between the Chakma students and Bangladesh military. Storm is gathering steadily in the hills as the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) which opposed the peace accord is gaining strong grounds and the PCJSS getting concerned with every passing day. And it is highly likely, observers feel, that if the PCJSS now goes for election to the regional council in the CHT, they would face a humiliating debacle. Santu knows it very well and is buying time for a better tomorrow which is evidently elusive. On the other hand, the Awami League government has kept the election issue at the backburner. Defeat of the PCJSS would mean hardliners pressing for implementation of the accord agenda and repatriation assurances in the regional council. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this moment is not at all inclined to any change in the status quo in the CHT on the face of tremendous strong BNP and Jamat-e-Islami opposition. As the prevailing lull in the CHT indicates the hardline rebel leaders at any moment think of digging up the buried hatchet and go for 'armed struggle' once again which may result in yet another exodus of Jumma tribals towards Tripura and other states of the region. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; October 31, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 31: For Kitu, Chameli and Rajkumar, the journey was indeed long. In fact, the three had travelled to a new home, in a foreign land and among foreign people. Troublesome though the journey may have been, they had all they wanted in their new home and were the darling of thousands of people who came to see them every day. Problem was that they could not communicate properly with their new guardians. That's what led three of their old friends from Assam to visit them in their new home. The reunion naturally was poignant. Kitu, Chameli and Rajkumar are the three elephants from Assam who have found a new home in Yokohama, Japan. The story began in November last year when authorities from Yokohama zoo (called Zoorasia) wrote to the Guwahati Zoo authorities wanting three elephants under the Animal Exchange Programme. "We agreed to sent them the elephants but they had nothing special to offer us in return," says DFO, Ritesh Bhattacharjee, incharge of Guwahati Zoo. A deal was struck to provide the pachyderms at Rs 3 lakh each. Handlers from the Japanese zoo arrived here to learn about the elephants and to master commands. "We wanted to train the Japanese handlers for three months but they were here only 20 days," Bhattacharjee informed. In March this year, Kitu, Chameli and Rajkumar, aged between three and eight started on their transcontinental journey. Travelling from here to Mumbai by road, they were flown across the seas from the metropolis to their final destination. In Yokohama, the three new residents of Zoorasia were accorded a grand welcome. They had everything that Japan could offer - sleek and spacious shelters, the best of food, the best medical attention and hordes of loving admirers. It was but natural since they were the first elephants in the city. On Sundays, visitors to the zoo exceeded 20,000. Problems, however started cropping up soon as the pachyderms, trained to take commands in Assamese, had difficulty in comprehending the heavily accented commands of the Japanese handlers. That is when an SOS was sent to the Guwahati zoo authorities to do something about it. Early this month, Bhattacharjee along with two mahouts, who had handled the elephants when they were here, Rajani Deka and Niranjan Boro, flew to Japan to help out the Japanese. Arriving in Yokohama on October 14, their reunion with the three pachyderms was rather emotional. "Elephants have a strong memory and never forget friends," explains Bhattacharjee who returned to the city earlier this week. In Japan, Bhattacharjee and the two mahouts discussed the matter with the Zoorasia officials and zeroed in on the problem. "The elephants were rather confused as they could not pick up the words uttered by the Japanese." The handlers were again given a crash course on proper pronunciations. The two mahouts Deka and Boro, are still in Japan carrying on with the training. "They will return in mid-November," Bhattacharjee says. He feels that once the training is over, the handlers should be having no problems. He says that the elephants are, otherwise, having no problems. "The vegetation, the grass, etc. are the same," he says, "what the handlers need is experience." There are 54 Asian elephants in Japanese zoos, Bhattacharjee said. During his trip to Japan, the DFO visited other zoos in Ueno, Nagoya, Icharawa and Kanazawa. The Nagoya zoo is 120 years old and houses one of the oldest elephants in Japan which is 51-year old. "Technically, the Japanese zoos are very sound and have all facilities," Bhattacharjee says. He feels that entertainment is given more thrust in Japanese zoos. Asked how he compared Indian zoos with their Japanese counterparts, Bhattacharjee says, "we have more variety and more experience." (Anujata Das Talukdar; The Assam Tribune, Guwahati; November 1, 1999)