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10/20/2005: "Karbi Anglong conflict is not ethnic in nature:"

Karbi Anglong conflict is not ethnic in nature:
A “Third Force” involved
Civil society needed to intervene


athili
KOHIMA, OCT 20 (EMN)

The Karbi Students Association (KSA) and the All Dimasa Students Union (ADSU) today said there is an urgent need to recognise that common Karbi and Dimasa people were not part of the heinous attacks and that there was a “third force” responsible for the ongoing conflict.
Biren Ingti of the Karbi Students Association (KSA) and Prafulla Hafisa of the All Dimasa Students Union (ADSU) said this during a citizen’s meet held at the B.P. Baruah Sadan in Guwahati to discuss the ongoing violence in Karbi Anglong.
“The conflict in Karbi Anglong is not ethnic in nature,” stated one resolution adopted and maintained that the Karbi armed opposition group - United Peoples Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and Dimasa armed opposition group, Dima Halam Daoga (DHD) - were not responsible for starting the conflict.
The Peoples Committee for Peace Initiative in Assam today concluded that this conflict was not a struggle between common Karbi and Dimasa people and had all the hallmarks of a state-induced conflict.
The house therefore called upon both armed organisations to urgently sit and have a dialogue so that they can take measures to contain the conflict and reassure the Karbi and Dimasa people that they will work together.
It urged Karbi and Dimasa civil society organisations to work together.
In a significant move representatives of Karbi and Dimasa students’ organisations resolved to jointly work together and the Peoples Committee would take out a large solidarity meeting, fact-finding and relief operations in the affected areas.
The meeting was attended by representatives from Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chattra Parishad (AJYCP), Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS), Mishing Memang Kebang (MMK), Asom Sahitya Sabha, Boro Women’s Justice Forum (BWJF), All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO), North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), besides representatives of civil society organisations from all over the region, particularly from Assam.
The meet was chaired by Dilip Patgiri, AJYCP and presided over by Dhanabir Laishram of AMUCO, Lachit Bordoloi, advisor of MASS, Birinchi Neog of Moran Students Organisation and Khanin Das of All Assam Central-Semi Central organisations.
Dr. Jagadish Patgiri of the Asom Sahitya Sabha said that citizens should be vigilant against the machinations of the government.
Prakanta Warisa, vice president of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), reiterated the urgency to bring normalcy back and feared the violence spreading to other parts.
Dr. Ranoj Pegu, of the Mishing Memang Kebang (MMK) and Ms. Anjali Daimary, of Boro Women’s Justice Forum (BWJF) cautioned ethnic armed opposition groups about playing into the hands of the state while engaging with the state.
Hiru Bathari, a survivor from Hanlocrook village in Hamren sub-division whose village was burnt down, said that he had grown up in Karbi Anglong and always would continue to believe that the land belonged to him and his Karbi brethren and that they could share it and live in peace.
Lachit Bordoloi of MASS and Rajkumar Baishya of Purbanchal Lok Parishad (PLP) also reiterated that the government was not interested in the peace and security of common people.
He cautioned the armed opposition groups that if they did not begin to disown these acts, they would be responsible for the growing insecurity and violence that is being experienced by common people.
Dolly Kikon of NPMHR extended the Naga civil society’s concern about the ongoing violence in Karbi Anglong and also its sympathy for the victims of the violence.
Artax Shimray, advisor of NESO said one needs to urgently take steps to provide relief for the victims of the violence and take steps to ensure that further militarisation of the region is avoided.