GUWAHATI, August 1: Members of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), on Tuesday, elected Denial Teron as its chairman. He was elected unopposed. However, members belonging to Holiram Terangs faction were absent during the proceeding, which was presided over by deputy chairman Daniel Teron. Meanwhile, a standing committee member of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and also of the Holiram Terang faction, Chomang Kro, has urged the state government to declare as illegal the elections of chairman and chief executive member (CEM) of KAAC under the presidentship of deputy chairman Daniel Teron. Kro, in a release, also accused Rongpi of not attending the current Parliamentary session to press for an autonomous Karbi state, and instead involving himself in politics in Karbi Anglong. To buttress his argument, he alleged that Rongpi has instructed his cronies to carry on with the proceedings of the House despite earlier chairman Babu Rongpis ruling of proroguing it Saturday. (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; August 2, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 1: Jayanta Rongpis faction in the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), on Monday, elected Mojari Hanse the new chief executive member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC). Hanse was elected unopposed under Rules 20, 32 and 33 of the Assam Autonomous Districts (Constitution of District Councils) Rules, 1951. Only Hanse had filed nomination papers till Sunday -- the last day for filing of the papers -- for the post. Of the Councils 30 members, only 16 owing allegiance to Rongpi were present during the session presided over by deputy chairman Daniel Teron. Jotson Bey and Babu Rongpi along with their supporters belonging to the Holiram Terang faction, however, remained absent during the proceedings. Meanwhile, Resulo Rengma has filed his papers for the post of KAAC chairman on Monday. He is also expected to be elected unopposed Tuesday since the other faction has already boycotted the entire exercise terming it illegal after chairman Babu Rongpi prorogued the House. Governor Lt. Gen. (retd) SK Sinha had fixed July 31 and August 1 as the dates for electing the new CEM and the chairman respectively. The elections were necessitated after a no-confidence motion was tabled against CEM Jotson Bey on the floor of the Council, and another resolution was moved to remove chairman Babu Rongpi on Saturday. On the other hand, Holiram Terang, Jotson Bey and Babu Rongpi along with two of their supporters met chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta Sunday evening, and asked him to declare the whole exercise illegal. He also said that they are keeping the legal options open. (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; August 2, 2000)

SHILLONG, August 1: At least 170 Burmese nationals were convicted for illegal entry to Mizoram and sent to jail on Monday. They will be deported to their country within a fortnight, Mizoram police said. This followed an anti-foreigners crack down on the Burmese nationals by the Mizoram police during the last three days. They were produced before the court of the district magistrate at Aizawl who booked them under the Foreigners Act. An All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) spokesman alleged that U Than Sein, a Burmese MP representing National League for Democracy, and two ABSDF leaders were among those arrested by the police on July 28. Though they were released on the next day, the ABSDF member said, the fate of Seins daughter and son was unknown. He claimed that they and several others were put in the central jail in Aizawl. Mizoram police dismissed this (the arrest of U Sein and their children) as baseless but admitted that over one hundred Burmese nationals were detained and many of them were involved in various criminal activities. When contacted, Tawnluia, the additional home secretary, Mizoram told The Northeast Daily over telephone from Aizawl that the police had to make regular anti-foreigners drive due to public pressures in the wake of growing crimes allegedly committed by the Burmese nationals in the state. Various public organisations, including all powerful Young Mizo Association and church group mounted pressure on the state government to control the influx of the Burmese nationals in the state. Incidentally, even though Mizoram is a dry state a large number of Burmese nationals are involved in illegal brewing of spirit, while many are engaged in other criminal activities. Some of them have even murder charges against them, said Tawnluia. Tawnluia denied that the Burmese nationals living ordinarily in Mizoram were normal harassed, we are not touching the ordinary Burmese nationals who are staying here, he said. They work as domestic help, shopkeepers, petty traders, weavers etc. In fact, their number is so large that we do not have the time and the resources to detect and deport them. Moreover, almost every house may have Burmese workers, Tawnluia said. It is estimated that between 40,000 and 50,000 Chin and Lushai nationalities from Burma are living in Mizoram, which is sharing border with the Chin state of Burma. The state government so far remained soft on them considering the ethnic affiliations. Mizoram police sources said the detained Burmese nationals would be tried under the Foreigners Act and pushed back across the Indo-Burma border. They come over to Mizoram in large group in search of livelihood because of ongoing optical turmoil in Myanmar. Most of them are unskilled and work as maids. Of late, it was reported that many Burmese girls were forced to join the sex works of survival. (Sanat K Chakraborty; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; August 2, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 2: Former Food and Civil Supplies Minister Digen Bora was arrested by the city police a little before midnight yesterday from a hotel where he was found "uncontrollably drunk" and in the company of an estranged wife of a bandit and a teenaged girl. A sober Bora, booted out of the Cabinet by Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta in November last year for a series of "drunken brawls" and "foul antics in public", said today that he had been made a victim of a "sinister political conspiracy". His supporters claimed that Bora's former Asom Gana Parishad colleagues "took advantage of his weakness for liquor to stage a career-destroying drama". According to the police, Bora checked into room 401 of a hotel in the Ganeshguri locality of the city around 6 pm. He was accompanied by a few friends and three women, who left the room around 9 pm only to be replaced by two other women. The women arrested with Bora were identified as 19-year-old Pinki Das, who claimed to be the employee of a private firm, and Reena Bora (30), the estranged wife of elusive bandit Jiten Malakar. They reportedly are also part-time masseurs. They were apparently sent to the hotel by a shady beauty parlour owner ostensibly for a "massage job" on Bora. Officials of the Dispur police station nearby got wind of the goings-on when boarders and staff of the hotel reportedly complained of Bora's tantrums around 11 pm. A team led by the police station in-charge, AC Barman, reached the hotel half-an-hour later and arrested Bora and the two women. Bora was taken to the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital for a medical test and later lodged in the Basistha police station, some five km from Dispur. Senior police officials said Bora would be kept in custody until the medical reports arrive. AGP-baiters have decried the "orchestrated" arrest of Bora, adding that yesterday's drama could deal a severe blow to the political career of the former minister, who has already fallen from grace. (Correspondent; The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; August 3, 2000)

SHILLONG, August 3: The Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court today directed the Assam and Meghalaya governments to maintain status quo on the inter-state border. The interim order was issued by Justice NS Singh following a writ petition filed before the Court yesterday by Maikhuli Baptist Church and Maikhuli Roman Catholic Church. The petitioners alleged that the Assam Police and the administration have encroached on the cemetery which was being used by the local residents of the village under Khanapara police station of Meghalaya for the last 50 years. In a memorandum submitted to the DC, Ri-Bhoi district last month, the villagers had alleged that the DC, Kamrup had come to the village and inaugurated a village defence party camp in a bid to show the village to be under his administration. The Court today further directed the two state Governments to submit affidavits within a month. Meghalaya Chief Minister, EK Mawlong was to meet his Assam counterpart PK Mahanta at Dispur today, enroute to New Delhi, in order to defuse the tension in Maikhuli area. (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 4, 2000)

SHILLONG August 3: Meghalaya Chief Minister EK Mawlong today carried out a major reshuffle in his nearly five month-old coalition ministry affecting the portfolios of nine Cabinet Ministers and three Ministers of state. A notification issued to this effect this evening said that the portfolios of other Cabinet and Ministers of state would remain unchanged. Following the reshuffle, Mawlong will hold charges of Cabinet Affairs, Political, Law, Personnel, District Council Affairs, Administrative Reforms and any other departments not allotted to any other minister in the 29-member Council of Ministers. HB Dan gets Revenue, Home Guards, Civil Defence and evaluation while Nimarson Momin of Nationalist Congress Party has been allocated General Administration Department, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. The Home and Education Minister, TH Rangad receives the additional charges of the newly created department of Information Technology. Monindra Rava, another NCP Minister will look after Parliamentary Affairs and Election in addition to Transport. Community and Rural Development and Communication has been entrusted to ON Chyrmang of United Democratic Party. The only woman minister in the council of Ministers, Smt Roshan Warjri has been allotted Urban Affairs and Cooperation. The Mining and Geology Minister, DP Iangjuh (UDP) will also look after Printing and Stationery while FA Khonglam will hold the additional charge of Soil Conservation in addition to his earlier portfolios of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary. The three Ministers of state whose portfolios have undergone some changes are AL Hek (BJP), Cyprian R Sangma (Peoples' Democratic Movement) and Brening A Sangma (NCP). (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 4, 2000)

AIZAWL, August 3: The Opposition Mizo People's Conference (MPC) has accused the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) of arming former Mizo National Army cadres to deal with certain underground outfits trying to activate themselves in the state. According to a press release issued by the MPC on Sunday, the ruling party was arming the former rebels to form a "special secret force" to deal with the volatile situation. The MPC claimed that the move would have a demoralising effect on the state police. (Agencies; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 4, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 3: Former Assam Minister Digen Bora arrested in a drunken state with two alleged call girls from a city hotel on Tuesday night was released on bail by a city court today. Chief Judicial Magistrate BN Neog granted bail to Bora on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 25,000 and a surety of the like amount. The court released Bora on bail subject to the conditions that he shall not leave Guwahati without the court's permission, will be available whenever required by the court and will not hamper the investigations of the case. Bora who was a minister in the Asom Gana Parishad government had been expelled from the party last year and is at present a MLA from Nagaon district. Acting on complaints received from hotel staff about Bora's tantrums, the Dispur police had arrested the former minister from a room of the hotel. At the time of his arrest, Bora was in a drunken stupor and two suspected call girls were also present in his room. The two girls were later identified as Pinki Bora (19), an employee of a private firm and Reena Bora (30), the estranged wife of absconding bandit Jiten Malakar. According to the statements, they are professional masseurs and had been brought to the hotel by the owner of a beauty parlour to do a massage job on Bora. Bora was booked under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act and remanded to a day's judicial custody on Wednesday. (Correspondent; The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; August 4, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 4: The creation of new states -- Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand -- may spell trouble in Assam as the All Bodo Students Union and the Bodo People's Action Committee, spearheading a movement for a separate Bodoland state, are likely to renew its agitation vigorously in the coming months. A 24-hour rail and road roko was organised on Wednesday by these two organisations, disrupting train and road movement to and from the northeast. The Bodos have been agitating for a separate state since 1967, alleging discrimination against their tribe by successive state governments in Assam. The Bodos, who inhabit the areas around Kokrajhar -- which serves as a gateway to the region -- have in the past paralysed both rail and road traffic to the Northeast by launching rail and road blockades. More militant elements have often blown up rail tracks and bridges to register their protest. ABSU president Urkhau Gwra Brahma, who was in Guwahati on Monday, said the Assam government has not played its part in resolving the Bodo problem. He said the Centre too is unwilling to take the responsibility of taking any decision in this regard. He alleged that Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has not initiated a tripartite political dialogue to discuss a solution to the problem. "Even Laloo Prasad Yadav is more democratic than Prafulla Mahanta as the RJD chief passed a resolution in the Bihar assembly for the the creation of Jharkhand," the ABSU president said. Brahma said he recently led a delegation to request Prime Minister AB Vajpayee to introduce a Bill for the creation of Bodoland in the winter session of Parliament. The delegation also asked the prime minister not to release funds earmarked for the development of the Bodoland Autonomous Council area as there is every possibility that the fund would be misused by the advisory committee formed by the state government to run BAC affairs. The ABSU delegation also met Union Home Minister LK Advani and alleged that the central government had adopted a discriminatory attitude towards the Bodos. "The home minister told us that the BJP supported the concept of smaller states, but the state assembly should pass a resolution for the creation of a new state. Advani was of the opinion that the ABSU should try to gather the support of all the communities living inside and outside the proposed Bodoland for the creation of a separate state," Brahma said. Asked if the ABSU would try to move a resolution in the state assembly for the creation of a separate state, Brahma said the Union did not have the requisite numbers in the House to achieve this. Bodo MLAs, he said, had tried to raise the issue in the assembly on several occasions, but were not allowed to do so. With the Assam government unsympathetic to the demand for Bodoland, he felt, it would not be possible to pass such a resolution in the state assembly. (Nitin Gogoi; Rediff.com; August 4, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 3: In what is seen in political circles here as a solid step towards bringing about political cohesiveness among the north-eastern states on issues plaguing them all, the "NE Political Parties' Forum" today decided to host a conference of all regional parties of India in Guwahati in December and resolved to "settle permanently", the various inter-state disputes, including those related to borders between them, amicably through negotiations in the spirit of good neighbourliness. A conference of the Forum, held at the AGP's head office here under the presidentship of Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, and attended by Manipur Chief Minister W Nipamacha Singh and Meghalaya Chief Minister EK Mawlong, besides leaders of various regional parties of the Northeast squarely blamed the successive governments at the Centre headed by the Congress for systematically demolishing the federal structure of the Constitution as had been envisaged by the founding fathers of the Constitution, and turning the Constitution into a unitary one, vesting more powers in the Centre. In a resolution, the conference said, this was the prime reason behind the growth of regional parties across the country and demanded that more powers be devolved to the states by amending the Constitution. Taking note of the fact that the Sarkaria Commission to study Centre-state relations vis-a-vis devolution of more powers to the states had been set up due to the consistent demand of several states, including Assam, the resolution demanded that the question of devolution of powers to the states be addressed urgently. Charging the Congress of hatching a conspiracy to snatch away the powers from the states by amending the Constitution, the resolution regretted that even the modest recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission had not been discussed in Parliament till today. Expressing grave concern over the growth of insurgency in the Northeast, the Forum said, the problem cannot be resolved in an isolated manner and called for a concerted effort by all the affected states and the Centre to curb insurgency. It demanded adequate funds from the Centre to meet the expenses incurred in tackling insurgency in the Northeast. The Forum of NE Political Parties is actually a forum of regional parties. The Mizoram Chief Minister, Zoramthanga, who is a regular participant in the Forum's meetings, was however, not present today. Others who attended today are Mizoram People's Conference leaders JV Hluna, and Col LC Sailo, the Nagaland People's Conference leaders T Kikon, Sheikhozelie, Chubatemjan Ao, SC Pongessev, the UDP leader, Meghalaya, BG Momin, several MSCP leaders of Manipur, besides the AGP leaders. (Staff Reporter; The Sentinel; Guwahati; August 4, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 4: Disgraced former Food and Civil Supplies Minister Digen Bora today alleged the involvement of Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta in the August 1 night episode leading to his arrest and one day's judicial remand before he was released on bail yesterday afternoon. Speaking to mediapersons here at his residence this morning Bora said that Mahanta has been conspiring to tarnish his political image and resorted to such dirty tricks. He said that this was because of Bora's involvement in a lobby of former ministers and MLAs of AGP which is determined with its threat not to let anyone return from any assembly constituency in Nagaon district on AGP's tickets in the coming polls. "Because Mahanta knows me personally and my ability to carry out my threats he is out to destroy me by hook or crook," Bora said. He also informed this lobby would make itself public just before the polls. About the circumstances leading to his arrest from Ambarish hotel he admitted that he indeed visited the hotel for a cup of soup and drinks but soon afterwards he fell asleep. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 5, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 4: Normal life was paralysed in the state today following a dawn-to-dusk Bharat bandh called by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in protest against the killing of Amarnath pilgrims by the Kashmiri secessionists in Kashmir on August 1. Financial institutions, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed in almost all parts of the state with almost all modes of transport, particularly long-distance and private buses including city ones remaining off the roads during the bandh period, which started at 5 am. However, no major untoward incident barring some stray incidents of stone pelting, has so far been reported in connection with the bandh from any part of the state. In the city the bandh was total and some private vehicles and some city buses of the state-run Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) only were seen on the roads, while financial institutions, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed during the bandh period. Attendance in the Government offices was also thin today. Even as the state Secretariat registered an attendance of around 50 per cent, attendance in the NF Railway headquarters here was remarkably thin. The Adabari Bus Terminus, which is the main transhipment point for the commuters travelling between various lower Assam areas and the city, also wore a deserted look. Same was the case with the Paltanbazar area, which serves as the main transhipment point for people travelling between various part of the region and the city. Remarkably, the organisational presence of the VHP is not that felt in the city areas. In the other parts of the state also the VHP is yet to be a popular name, let alone its spreading its organisation to these areas in an effective manner. The bandh paralysed normal life at North Lakhimpur. Shops, educational institutions etc remained closed. However, classes in North Lakhimpur College continued as usual. All modes of vehicular traffic remained off the roads, and functions in office remained crippled. Jorhat : The bandh evoked mixed response in the city as business establishments downed their shutters while colleges, schools and government offices functioned normally despite a lower level of attendance than on normal work days. Atleast 32 people were arrested for picketing at particular areas of the city. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 5, 2000)

NEW DELHI, August 5: India's decision to deport hundreds of ethnic Chin Burmese refugees living in the north-eastern region has been criticised by the US committee for refugees. Quoting from Chin Freedom Coalition sources, an organisation of the Chin community, the USCR has claimed that Indian authorities have detained some of the Chins who were arrested in Aizwal and from other places in Tanhril, Babutlang, Vaiva, Kulikawn and Lungmual. A USCR political analyst Hiram A Ruiz said in a statement on Saturday that Chin Burmese should be treated as refugees. He said that many of these people fled to India as they feared prosecution in Burma and their repatriation could constitute refoulement forced return, an action contrary to international law. The USCR believes that Chin people should be treated as other Burmese refugees. There are estimated 40,000 Chin Burmese in Northeast living there as refugees since last decade. The Chin community are among the many ethnic minorities who have suffered discrimination under successive Burmese governments and persecution by the present regime. The USCR said that although India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN refugee convention, it is a member of UNHCR's executive committee. (Correspondent; The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; August 6, 2000)

AGARTALA, August 6: Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) has rejected the nomination of two members to the council by the former Governor, Siddheswar Prasad and requested the newly appointed Governor to renominate fresh members. The Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT)-run TTAADC in a resolution on Friday opposed the nomination alleging that those members belonged to Left Front and not from unrepresented communities. In the 30-member Tribal Council, 28 are directly elected while two members are nominated by the Governor from unrepresented communities. The IPFT, which was formed with the breakaway faction of Tripura Upajati Juba Samity (TUJS), came to power in the council in May last by defeating the ruling Left Front. The Chief Executive Member of the council, Debbabrata Kloloi, told reporters that a delegation of IPFT earlier met the newly appointed Governor Maj Gen (Retd) K M Seth and demanded cancellation of nominations. Meanwhile, in the TTAADC session on Friday, the executive member, Sridam Debbarma, raised the Primary Schools (Language Regulations, 2nd amendment), 2000 Bill recommending introduction of Roman script in Kokborak, tribal language instead of Bengali. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 7, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 7: Central committee member of the CPI(ML), Holiram Terang and North Cachar Hills MLA, Samarjit Haflongbar today resigned from the primary membership of the CPI(ML) in protest against the party Central Committee's role in protecting 'corrupt' Jayanta Rongpi. However, both Terang and Haflongbar will continue to remain members of Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC). Terang announced his resignation from the CPI(ML) at a press conference here. In absence of Haflongbar in the press conference a fax message from him was produced by Terang confirming the former's resignation from the CPI(ML). Terang said, "We had joined CPI(ML) with a vision. But today we have found out that some of the recent decisions of the party central committee are against the aspirations of the people of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills. He claimed that 70 per cent of CPI(ML) cadres in the two hill districts had resigned from the party after they were convinced that the party Central Committee was protecting 'corrupt' Jayanta Rongpi. Terang said the present crisis in the ASDC which has now split into two groups - Rongpi group and Holiram group - was a fall out of recent actions on part of the CPI(ML) central leadership. Terang expressed anguish over the state government's 'hasty' move to recognise the Majori Hanse-led Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council comprising supporters of Jayanta Rongpi. He alleged that the state Governor denied to meet a delegation of ASDC members and some members of the KAAC who came to lodge protest against the way the new KAAC CEM and Chairman were elected replacing Jotson Bey and Babu Rongpi. Terang said the people of Karbi Anglong would give proper answer to Rongpi and his 'cronies' for snatching power in the KAAC. It is only a matter of time before Jayanta Rongpi is totally isolated in Karbi Anglong and the ASDC, ' Terang said and vowed to consolidate the ASDC from the grassroot level. "We will not allow autonomy movement to get derailed because of present crisis in the ASDC', he added. Meanwhile, a petition was filed in the Gauhati High Court today challenging locus standi of KAAC led by Majori Hanse. The date of hearing on the petition was yet to be decided. Terang said that in the next election to the KAAC due in May next, the ASDC group led by Jayanta Rongpi would be annihilated as they no longer have the support of the common Karbi people. No crisis in NC Hills : In a press statement issued today N C Hills unit of the ASDC denied that the crisis in the ASDC unit of Karbi Anglong had spilled over to NC Hills unit. Its secretary Mohet Hojai stated that the ASDC unit in N C Hills had remained united and committed to autonomous state movement. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 8, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 8: The state government has constituted a high power committee to study its demand for more autonomy so that pressure can be mounted on the Centre in this regard. Official sources here informed that the committee would look into the question of degree and kind of autonomy and additional power required to expedite economic development in the state. The 14-member committee headed by Education Minister Thaneswar Boro as chairman would consider the report of Sarkaria Commission on Centre-state relations as the base document. It would, however, look beyond the parameters in Sarkaria Commission report considering the socio-political changes that have taken place in the country in subsequent period. The committee will examine the provisions of Government of India Act, 1935 in respect of the powers of the state and their relevance in the present context. Adequate consideration will be given to Assam Accord, 1985 with special emphasis on its Clause VI. The first meeting of the committee was held at Janata Bhawan today in presence of Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta to discuss the modalities and functioning of the committee. The Chief Minister suggested that the committee should submit its report at the earliest in view of growing demand for more autonomy to the state throughout the country. Besides chairman Boro, other members of the committee are Gunin Hazarika, Hitendra Nath Goswami, Binode Goala, Phanibhusan Choudhury, Promode Gogoi, Abdul Muhib Mazumdar, Derhagra Mushahary, Pachu Gopal Barua and Commissioner and Secretary to the Chief Minister. The secretary, administrative Reforms and Training department is the Member Secretary of the Committee. It may be mentioned that the Asom Gana Parishad, the leading constituent of four-party ruling alliance in a recent meeting of its workers resolved to mobilise mass support for the demand for more power or autonomy to the state to facilitate speedy economic development in the state which has lagged far behind the other states of the country as far as economic development is concerned. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 9, 2000)

NEW DELHI, August 9: A total of 16,000 displaced Reang refugees in Tripura will be returning to Mizoram by October 30 this year in the first phase of repatriation while the remaining will be verified and repatriated by December 31 this year. This decision was taken at a meeting held by home minister Lal Krishna Advani with the Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar and Mizoram home minister Tawnluia. They were accompanied by senior officials including Union home secretary Kamal Pande, additional secretary (home) PD Shenoy along with other officials of the home ministry. According to the agreement reached on Monday tripartite talks will be held between the Union government, Mizoram and Reang representatives to bring about a settlement of outstanding issues and an end to violence. According to a home ministry spokesperson, a total of 31,511 Reangs (6,956 families) are living in relief camps in Kanchanpur sub-division in North Tripura. The Reangs who are non-Christian tribals had fled Mizoram from 1997 onwards in the wake of some ethnic tension. (Correspondent; The Asian Age; New Delhi; August 10, 2000)

NEW DELHI, August 10: A realignment of political forces of Karbi Anglong is in the offing, with Holiram Terang faction likely to come to an electoral understanding with the BJP. The first exploratory meeting between Terang who recently quit the CPI(ML) and the Union Home Minister LK Advani was held here yesterday in presence of senior Assam state unit BJP leaders including its president Rajen Gohain MP. Confirming this Gohain told this newspaper that his party is keen to have an electoral understanding with Holiram Terang group for the next Assembly election as well as the Council election after that. Describing yesterday's talks as exploratory, Gohain said that Terang discussed the latest developments in the Hills district with the Union Home Minister. The possibility of the two coming into an understanding also came up. The BJP seems to have stolen a lead over the state Congress party on this, as the latter was still making up its mind over which faction to woo for an understanding. The Congress party significantly for the first time confirmed that Jayanta Rongpi has approached it for similar understanding. The Assam Congress president, Tarun Gogoi told this Correspondent that informal talks were on with Rongpi through Santosh Mohan Dev. But the Congress seems to have developed cold feet about having understanding with Rongpi after the ASDC split. Senior party leaders indicted that they were more interested in tying up with Holiram Terang's faction rather than with Rongpi "We are waiting and watching the developments and not inclined to take a decision soon", Gogoi said. Meanwhile, Gohain said Terang apprised the Union Home Minister about the injustice done to his faction. Buoyed by the initial success, the newly elected -BJP state unit president said that efforts are also on to woo former senior leaders of the AGP who have split away from the regional party. He disclosed that Bhrigu Kumar Phukan and senior BJP leadership were in touch. "We want Phukan to formally join the BJP, though we have approached Atul Bora also", he added. Gohain also ruled out the possibility of the BJP and the AGP joining hands to fight the next Assembly elections scheduled next year. "People have rejected the regional party and the BJP would have to side with the feeling of the people". Gohain said, adding that the party would contest in all 126 Assembly seats in the state. (Kalyan Barooah; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 11, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 10: "The awareness now prevalent among the tribal village people of the NC Hills district about the affairs of the Autonomous Council as well as other socio-political issues is an achievement of sort during my tenure as the CEM of the NC Hills Autonomous Council," feels Prakanta Warisa, Chief Executive Member of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council. Talking exclusively to The Assam Tribune, the Rajya Sabha MP and Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) leader said that his party has opened the door to the people who were completely ignorant of various rural development schemes of the government. "Their innocence has been exploited by earlier regimes of Congress. Even, there are instances where schemes meant for rural areas were shown implemented in town localities. Now people know the schemes under DRDA, IAY, JRY etc. Only after the ASDC came to power in NC Hills, rural people are getting benefits of many such developmental plans." Resenting the fact that the Council has no control over various important appointments like Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, Warisa said that the MoU singed in 1995 has a provision that there would be a panel of qualified officers from which the Autonomous Council would choose the required officials. "This is because we have seen that many officers lacked the administrative acumen to run a tribal-dominated district like NC Hills," Warisa opined. "As our customs, rituals and way of life are different, were need officers with special knowledge," he said, adding, the state Government has failed to provide such a panel till date. Elaborating on the financial difficulties faced by his council, the CEM said that though the Council prepares its annual budget and sends it to the state Government to recommend it to the Planning Commission, Dispur has always reduced the budgetary allocation, make a fresh statement on their own and send it to the Plan panel. Ultimately, we get much less amount of fund than envisaged, he resented. Further, Warisa said, the fund allocation for both Karbi Anglong and NC Hills districts has remained on the basis of a 70: 30 proposition which is incorrect and unjustified. Fund for developmental activities should be based on geographical location, and not on density of population. It should be on the basis of requirement. The NC Hills, thus, remains deprived, he said. "I feel neglected because in comparison to Karbi Anglong, NC Hills is a totally hill district. So, were face more hardship in developing the areas as the rugged terrain always create uphill task. Lack of communication, the main problem, has resulted in other drawbacks like lack of proper medical facilities, education, drinking water and many more. In the last four years, the Council tried its level best to alleviate these problems. But fund remains the major drawback," he said. Warisa said that he has sanctioned fund from his MP's local area development scheme for new school buildings, club houses, solar lights in villages, ambulance, hostel buildings for schools, playgrounds. Some of the schools in Haflong have been granted fund for computers, he said. When asked how he would approach the current financial crisis, he reiterated his demand to be invited to the Planning Commission before finalising the plan outlay for the state. He also said that the Plan panel should give them an opportunity to express their grievances. On the autonomous state movement, Warisa regretted that even after 14 years of struggle, the Central and state governments have failed to take note of the issue. As the Parliament has already passed Bills for creating states of Vananchal, Uttarkhand and Chattisgarh, "we are at a fix to understand why the Central Government did not introduce a Bill for creation of autonomous state in Karbi Anglong and NC Hills, even when there is clear-cut constitutional provisions in this connection," Warisa wondered. Warisa further regretted the fact that, though the autonomous movement has been a united struggle of all the tribal people of the two hill districts, some people with vested interests have been referring to it as 'Karbi movement'. He went on to assert that all tribes, be it Karbi, Dimasa, Beite, Kuki, Zeme Naga, et al, are united in demanding an autonomous state. To substantiate his assertion, Warisa pointed out the recent rally held by the Hmar community in Haflong on July 27 to express solidarity with the ASDC. Warisa appealed to all not to use the term 'Karbi movement' while referring to the autonomous state movement, which, he felt, has been depicting a wrong picture. When asked about any immediate solution to the insurgency problem in his district, Warisa appealed to the authority concerned to initiate steps to bring the insurgent outfits like DHD to the negotiation table. "Unfortunately," he said, "I have not seen any sincere effort on the part of the state Government in this connection." When pointed out about the presence of Army in NC Hills, Warisa said that counter-insurgency operations would not provide a permanent solution." A political solution is a must," he said, adding that ASDC has been trying at the organisational level to solve the issue. (Partha Pratim Hazarika; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 11, 2000)

IMPHAL, August 10: The most controversial Bishnupriya issue is likely to hit the state within a short period as the Bishnupriya people residing at Barak Valley of Assam have once again come up with their demand for implementation of "Bishnupriya Manipuri" language in the primary level of education in Assam. A reliable source said, eleven organizations of Bishnupriya community in Assam had recently submitted similar memoranda to the Deputy Commissioners of the three districts in Assam in connection with the implementation of their demands. The organizations have also threatened to launch a 501-hour rail and road blockade at Barak Valley from August 13 to press for early implementation for the same. It may be recalled here that the Assam Government passed the order to implement the Bishnupriya language in the primary stage of education in the state last year but the order has not been implemented in view of the Manipuri government's objection. Besides, there are also great deals of pressure from students' organizations operating in both Assam and Manipur when the order was passed on March 20 last. (E-Pao; The Matamgee Yakairol; Imphal; August 11, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 10: Full preparations are on to hold the panchayat election in the state in the last part of October this year. The state Election Commission (SEC) has already instructed the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts to complete all necessary arrangements within September. Talking to The Sentinel the state Election Commissioner, Abdul Malik said the SEC has asked the Hindustan Paper Corporation to supply paper to print 4,90,00,000 ballot papers. The state Government had released Rs 4-crore to the SEC in the last month, and is releasing Rs 16 crore this month. The total cost for holding the panchayat election has been estimated at Rs 42 crore. There will be about 26,000 polling stations all over the state and more than two lakh personnel will be engaged in conducting the election. The people of the state will directly elect 25,000 Gaon Panchayat members, 2,500 Gaon Panchayat presidents, 2,500 Anchalik Parishad presidents and 493 Zila Parishad members in the ensuing panchayat election. Moreover, these elected members will select vice presidents of Gaon Panchayats, presidents of the Anchalik Parishads and Zila Parishads. Malik said, he has already held several rounds of talks with all the political parties about holding the panchayat election and the SEC has not so far received any complaint from any political party or organization. He said that the exact date of holding the election would soon be announced. "Now there is no question of halting the panchayat election," he said, adding that in case of any unforeseen development the SEC alone had the discretion to decide about holding the election or postponing it. The ensuing pancjhayat elections assume significant for the people of the state because they are being held for the first time after the 75th amendment of the Constitution was adopted in 1994 vesting the panchayats with financial and administrative powers as part of the process of devolving powers to the grass-root level. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today told newspersons in Dhubri district that panchayat elections would be held just after the Durga Puja festival and the SEC, has been asked by the state Government to fix the exact dates of holding the elections. (Staff Reporter; The Sentinel; Guwahati; August 11, 2000)

NEW DELHI, August 10: London-based human rights organisation Amnesty International has issued an urgent action alert on the "forcible" return of ethnic Chin Burmese to Burma from Mizoram. This was claimed by the Mizzima News Group here on Wednesday. In a statement, the group said Amnesty International on Tuesday urged its members and the international community to appeal to Indian authorities concerned to immediately halt the deportation of Chin asylum seekers to Burma. The group stated Amnesty as claiming that scores of ethnic Chin are reported to have been forcibly returned to Burma from Mizoram and handed over to the Burmese armed forces. At least 87 were forcibly deported on August 4 and several hundreds more were detained in several jails and police posts, it claimed. Meanwhile, in a letter to the chief minister of Mizoram, the joint action committee of Chin organisations has demanded that the government and people of Mizoram continue extending their "sympathetic and humanitarian help" to the Chin refugees who had escaped persecution in Burma. They have stated discontinuation of arrest and handing over of innocent Chin refugees to the hands of Burmese Junta and punishment to those committing crimes like trade in drugs. The committee said, "The influx of refugees from Burma is due to the lack of democracy and the existence of a military dictatorship which is a real threat to regional stability. We believe that these refugee problems can be solved only when a democratic government is restored in the country." The joint action committee also stated that it the rampant human rights violations and discrimination by the military regime in Burma forced the Chins to flee to Mizoram. (Correspondent; The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; August 11, 2000)

SHILLONG, August 11: Meghalaya Chief Minister EK Mawlong has invited the Defence Minister to visit the state to resolve the controversy over Army's alleged encroachment on civilian land here, reports UNI. This was even after GOC 101 Area Maj Gen V K Dua had assured in a press conference that Army would never indulge in such activities. While many political leaders, including the Home Minister, for the past few weeks had been raising the issue through press statements that Army had fenced certain cantonment area in greater Shillong which was nothing but encroachment on public land, Maj Gen Dua at a press conference on Thursday said the Army would not take even a yard of civilian land ... and it will correct its stand if slightest error is found on its part. Gen Dua said he had all documents to prove that the land in question actually belonged to them and copies of those (land transfer documents) had already been sent to the state government for its perusal. GOC 101 Area Maj Gen V K Dua said Army acquired the land from the then Assam government between 1926 to 1934 through proper government notification and added many portion of the land could not be fenced because of financial crunch. He alleged that many civilians and few government departments including Sericulture and Home Guard offices had rather encroached on Defence land. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; August 12, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 11: The president of All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) Urkha Gwra Brahma has, in a draft proposal addressed to the president of the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF), urged for unification among the Bodos all over the state, stated a press release. The proposals include the formation of a single political platform immediately and the dissolution of the existing political parties of Bodo Nationalist mainstream. He has also drafted distribution of portfolios and memberships on equal and proportionate terms for the new political platform as he envisaged. (a) The chairman from the ABSU-BPAC pact, the two vice-chairman from the PDF side and one from the general side. (b) The general secretary from the PDF side, two assistant general secretaries from the ABSU-BPAC side and from the general side. (c) The press spokesman from the PDF side. (d) The treasurer from the ABSU-BPAC side and the three organising secretaries from ABSU, PDF and general side each. Bineshwar Brahma, president BSS, UG Brahma, president ABSU and Bishiram Narzary, president, ABEF, in a separate letter addressed to the Deputy Director General of All India Radio, Akashbani, Guwahati, urged for the enhancement of broadcasting time for Bodo programmes in AIR centre at Guwahati. In support of their demands, the signatories has also cited various reasons for the necessity for the inclusion of the Bodo language. The memo said that there are more than 40 lakh Bodo people are living throughout of Assam. Bodo is the lingua-franca amongst various cross section of people in Bodo dominated areas throughout Assam. On demand of Bodo Sahitya Sabha and Bodo people the Assam Government had to recognise the Bodo language as medium of instruction in elementary stage in 1962 and the same was introduced as a first step in Kokrajhar subdivision only in 1963, which has now been spread well throughout Assam in Bodo dominated areas in 20 subdivisions of Assam. In 1968 Assam Government recognised the Bodo language as medium of instruction up to Secondary stage. In 1976 the Bodo language had been recognised as one of the Modern Indian Languages by Gauhati University, Northeast Hills University (NEHU), Shillong and by Dibrugarh University in 1995. Assam Government had to give the Bodo language the status of Associate official language by the Assam Legislative Language Act of 1985. The Bodo Department was opened in Gauhati University for Postgraduate studies in the Bodo language in 1996. The Government of India has now taken up transcription of scientific and technological books in Bodo language. The memo also said that the lakhs of Bodo people living in the district of Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur are devoid of hearing any Bodo programmes from All India Radio Dibrugarh. As such, introducing of the Bodo programme of AIR Dibrugarh is urgently needed. They also lamented of the fact that even though the Bodo programme was opened on October 2, 1975, yet no news bulletin has so far been broadcast from the AIR. A such they have urged the authority concerned to take note of the gravity of the situation and expedite process of transmission of services and also to recognise the Bodo programme of AIR Guwahati as news bulletin providing Bodo knowing staff i.e. to enhance broadcasting time of Bodo programmes, to open Bodo section at AIR Dibrugarh to cater the needs of Bodo people of upper Assam and to upgrade the existing AIR Kokrajhar centre to high power transmission capacity fullfledgedly. In another letter addressed to PK Singson, Deputy Director General (NE) Doordarshan Kendra, Guwahati, the signatories urged for the opening of Bodo news and other programme in the Bodo knowing staff for the multitude of Bodo people residing in various parts of the state. (Staff Reporter; The Sentinel; Guwahati; August 12, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 13: Fifteen years ago on the Independence Day, the Assam accord was signed in New Delhi with the aim of finding a permanent solution to the problem of illegal immigrants in the state. The accord was the culmination of six years of agitation in which several hundreds lost their lives and scores injured. The main thrust of the agitation was to stop infiltration from across the border and send back all illegal immigrants present in Assam. Fifteen years have passed. The student leaders from All Assam Students Union (AASU) who spearheaded the agitation and signed the accord, formed the Asom Gana Parishad and came to power in the state twice in the past 15 years. But nothing much has been achieved. Infiltration from Bangladesh still continues unabated and only a handful of illegal immigrants have been detected and deported back. "The AGP was brought to power by the Assamese people to ensure that the clauses of the accord were implemented. By miserably failing to accomplish their objectives, the party has played with the sentiments of every Assamese. Unabated infiltration has completely changed the demography of the state and Assamese people face the prospect of becoming minorities in their own land," says Samujjal Bhattacharya, Advisor to the AASU. The main objectives of the Assam accord were the detection and deportation of illegal immigrants and prevention of further infiltration. The accord sought setting up of tribunals under provisions of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act to deport immigrants who had illegally entered Assam after March 15, 1971. There were also provisions for construction of roads along the Indo-Bangla border, fencing of the border areas touching Assam, erection of police posts along the border to check infiltration and round-the-clock vigil on the rivers along the border. To date there has been no significant headway in achieving any of the important clauses of the accord. According to an affidavit submitted by the Assam government in Supreme Court in connection with the scrapping of IMDT Act, till May 31, 1999, only 9,625 people among lakhs of illegal immigrants present in Assam have been proven to be illegal immigrants. And only 1,461 of them have been deported till that date. Tribunals under provisions of the IMDT Act have not been set up in many parts of the state. A PIL submitted by former AASU chief Sarbananda Sonowal demanding the scrapping of the Act is pending in the Supreme Court. "The faulty clauses of the Act coupled with lack of strong political will both at the level of state and Central Governments have led to the failure of the Assam accord," says Sonowal. (Utpal Parashar; The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; August 14, 2000)

GUWAHATI, August 13: Fifteen years ago, when the Assam Accord was signed, the people of the state heaved a sigh of relief, thinking that the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh would be solved finally. However, while a number of other issues included in the accord have been successfully implemented, the main issue remains to be addressed. "It is a matter of grave concern that neither the Assam government nor the Centre is willing to sincerely put an end to infiltration and solve the issue once and for all. What we have seen over the years is that both Asom Gana Parishad and the BJP are only willing to continue politicking with the issue," says All Assam Students' Union (AASU) president Prabin Boro. One week ahead of the fifteenth anniversary of the accord, the AASU was taking stock of the accord's implementation, and found that the issue of influx had actually aggravated, with more people coming in from Bangladesh, in addition to the number of those already living here going up manifold. "The worst is the issue of scrapping the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act of 1983, which is the main hurdle in identifying and throwing out the Bangladeshi migrants who have swamped the state, and are on the verge of reducing the indigenous population into a minority," Boro adds. AASU adviser Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya is even more enraged. He charges Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta with having double standards. "Mahanta, one of the principal signatories to the accord, talks in different voices on the IMDT Act," he says. He points out that while a recommendation by the Assam government was in favour of the Act being scrapped, Mahanta had recently told a party convention here that the Act should be amended. "This is ridiculous," the AASU adviser added. In fact, the AASU delegation walked out of a meeting convened by the state government regarding a review of the accord, complaining that the government and its Chief Minister had contradictory stands on the Act. The AASU is equally sore with the Centre for not scrapping the Act. "Even the President of India had, during his address to Parliament, favoured repealing the Act, but till date the Government at the Centre has not taken any concrete step," Bhattacharyya says. The AASU has also complained that work on construction of a barbed wire fence along the India-Bangladesh border is progressing at a snail's pace. "While work on the fence has been slow, infiltration is still continuing unabated," the AASU leader says. In the 152-km Indo-Bangla border portion in Dhubri, Karimganj and Cachar sectors, for instance, May 1999, was taken as the target for completion, but more than 20 kilometres are yet to be fenced. A road along the border to facilitate better patrolling is also incomplete with about 50 km yet to be constructed, official statistics say. Interestingly most of the other clauses of the accord, like a refinery at Numaligarh, a cultural complex at Guwahati, extension of broad guage railways up to Dibrugarh, an IIT at Guwahati, have been all completed, though much behind schedule. Several other projects have also come up in the state as offshoots of the Assam Accord. These include two Central universities, one each at Tezpur and Silchar, an Institute of Social Change, an Institute for Water and Land Management. "All these are okay. But the basic issue has to be addressed with top priority. But the tragedy is that the BJP, which had promised a lot before the elections has started shying away, for reasons best known to its leaders," remarks AASU president Prabin Boro. (Samudra Gupta Kashyap; The Indian Express; New Delhi; August 14, 2000)

NEW DELHI, August 13: With common salt selling at Rs 35 per kilogram and petrol at Rs 100 per litre in the state, Arunachal Pradesh MPs are threatening to "look for help from across the border," if assistance was not given to meet the flood situation by the Centre. 'Across the border' here means China which has in the past staked a claim for some parts of the state. The June 11 floods in the state which left 26 killed, more than 20,000 cattle dead and hundreds of villagers untraced were reportedly caused due to breach of a dam on the Siang river in China from where it flows into Arunachal. The floods swept away eight crucial bridges and 15 swing bridges in the Upper, West and East Siang valley, and Dibang Valley. The damage is estimated at Rs 139.10 crore. But the state government has been able to raise only Rs 2.2 crore as calamity relief fund. The three MPs from the state have been camping in New Delhi hoping to initiate a debate in Parliament but had to be content with circulating a bulky memorandum. Says Jardom Gamlin, a Lok Sabha MP from the state: "The Centre has to stop this step-motherly treatment of Arunachal. If the situation continues then soon there will be a major revolt in the state." Though Arunachal shares international borders with Bhutan and Burma besides China, it is only the border with China which is considered sensitive. "We are also Indians," says Gamlin and adds, "The Centre should treat us as Indians. It is very important that the Centre does not put us in a situation where we are forced to seek help from across the border." Asked if Arunachal would seek help from China if India does not help with dealing with the floods, he says, "Our only request is that please do not give us the chance to search for relief." He says he has been assured that the Ministry of External Affairs will be taking up the issue of the Siang river with Beijing. Nabam Rebia, a Rajya Sabha MP from Arunachal, shares the emotion. "Most of the Siang valley is cut off from the rest of the country. People cannot live in these areas without essential commodities like drinking water, food, medicines and shelter. So they are moving to higher areas," he points out. "These are around the Gelling area which is closer to the Chinese border. While villagers have been found near the Chinese territory, it is not formally known that the Chinese are helping," he says. Rebia is among the few Arunachal leaders who had asked the Centre to seek compensation from China for the damage caused due to floods. Along with other MPs, he has also met Home Minister L K Advani and Minister of State for Agriculture Nitish Kumar. "The Centre is behaving in a vindictive manner. I am not saying that assistance should not be given to Himachal Pradesh or any other state where there are floods but relief should be given according to the damage and in addition to the plan-budget of the state," he says. Till date, an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 has been paid to the relatives of the 26 dead, which adds up to be Rs 13 lakh. Air-dropping is the only way out for the water-locked areas to get any assistance. "But though the helicopters have been helping us with supplying everything to these villages we owe them money without paying which this will have to be discontinued." The Government in a memorandum to the Centre has sought Rs 15 lakh for such sorties and old dues to be written off. (Kota Neelima; The Indian Express; New Delhi; August 14, 2000)