The growing of militancy is a cause for concern not only for the Arunachal Pradesh government but also the Indian government. The militants group that are active in Arunachal Praedesh are namely NSCN(I-M) ,NSCN(K) and Arunachal Pradesh Dragon Force(ADF). The NSCN are mainly active in Changlang and Tirap district , where they have sympathizer among the Naga people. The ADF are mainly active in central and western part of the state. It is also alleged that these people are sponsored by some tainted politicians of Arunachal Pradesh. Their mere presence disturb the peace and tranquility of the state.
But what is more cause of concern in the recent development is the growing presence of ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom). The dense forest are becoming safe heaven for the ULFA cadres. The dense and inaccessible forest act as a repellant for military action thus they can build their camp without any fear of raid from either the Indian Army or the Police personals. Even though they are not doing any physical harm to the nearby villagers but they are mentally torturing them. The villagers have to live under constant fear of torture. What can the helpless villagers can do ? If they help the Army to trace out the militants ,there is a fair chance that the militants will come back and torture them . As it is impossible for the Armies to give security for each and every villagers. Also if they don’t help the army , then there is torture from their side. So, what should they do? Question unanswered.
What is more concerning and unfortunate news being doing round in Arunachal Pradesh is that the ULFA and NSCN(I-M) and NSCN(K) are recruiting some youth of the Chakmas . I don’t know unto what extend it is true. It will be very unfortunate if the report is found to be true. If it is true then, it is clear that the militants are taking advantage of the poverty condition and unemployment that is frustrating the Chakma youth. They don’t have any source of employment, as the Arunachal Pradesh government stops providing employment to the Chakma. It is also difficult to fine job outside the state. It is very frustrating when you see your friends from other communities are getting jobs even after passing Class 10 or 12, an you are unemployed even after doing graduation. This is the same case with some of the Chakma youth now in Arunachal Pradesh. Is not this pure “DISCRIMINATION”? Being more educated and qualified they are being ignored in job opportunities even in their place of birth. What can be more frustrating then this?
The state government should find a solution to the Chakma citizenship issue as soon as possible. Otherwise, the situation may go out of control . Nobody wants Arunachal Pradesh to be another Manipur. It is important to remember that in educated militants are more dangerous than and uneducated one.
The Chakma society as a whole is a non-violence society. Also they are Buddhist by religion. Nobody supports any type of violence. Because once any community take up arms , that society is bound to be doom, unless any good leader is there to guide the whole community. Look at the example of Pakistan , they are violent society , now Pakistan is almost a failed state. The Chakma youth who joined those militant groups must have done without the consent of their parents and society. They must have done out of their frustration in life . So, it is the responsibility of both the society and the state government to bring them into the mainstream. The state government should start giving employment opportunities to all the youth without discrimination base on community , caste, etc.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
DISCRIMINATION OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH GOVERNMENT AND THE AAPSU(ALL ARUNACHAL PRADESH STUDENT UNION) TOWARDS THE CHAKMAS AND HAJONGS
I have given a thought while giving the title to this piece of my writing. Since only the Arunachal Pradesh government and the AAPSU (All Arunachal Pradesh Student Union) are spearheading the anti- Chakma and Hajong movement. I don’t think that any local Arunachalee public has any hatred feeling towards the Chakmas and Hajongs, which I have been observing from a long time. Though some younger members among the locals have that ill feeling, which have grown from the malicious agendas and xenophobia that are being propagated by some local AAPSU leaders. So, the discrimination is only from the government and the student body.
I also met some young Arunachalees, one of them a son of a high grade officer , who don’t have any hatred feeling towards the Chakmas. I was the first Chakma they met in their life. First they thought me as a member of their tribe. But when I told them that “I am a Chakma”, they were astonish. They were surprise that I look like them. They had the misconception that Chakmas look like Bengalis , since they were from Bangladesh. They were more concerned about the corruption and lack of development in the state. Also they were more worried about the Naga militancy in Changlang and Tirap districts.
The Chakmas were given land in Arunachal Pradesh by the Indian Government with the intention of permanently settling them. They thought that the Chakmas can again built their shattered life in the state again . Since their life became miserable after they lost all of their arable l and after the building of Khaptai Dam . They were religiously persecuted by the then Pakistani govt. So, they were settled in the state on humanitarian basis. Also, the govt. thought that they will be comfortable living in the state as they were also tribal and Buddhist by religion. That was one of the reason they were settle near the Khamtis and Singphos , who were also Buddhist.
From the time the Chakmas were settled in the state , they were given employment opportunities like in paramilitary forces. Some were also given government jobs. There were no problem and no question of citizenship as they were given equal opportunities like any other Indian citizen. They were no discrimination towards them since Arunachal was Union territory at that time. But the problem started after it was made a full fledge state. Mr. Gegong Apang started hatred campaign , when he became the Chief Minister. He started funding the AAPSU to lead the anti- Chakma campaign . Slowly he started taking away the facilities given to the Chakmas by the Central govt. like ration cards, free books for the students , drinking water, electricity etc. When I was young I remember that we used to had electricity in our village then suddenly one fine day the electrician came and took away the transformers. They took away the transformers from every Chakma villages. From that day the day of darkness crumble the Chakma villages.
After some time, the Circle Officer of Diyun gave a circular ordering the Chakmas to surrender their ration cards, which added more miseries to the life of the community. Since almost all the Chakmas were dependent on agriculture , even after toiling days after days the don’t get enough rice to sustain them throughout the year. So they depend on the PDS for rice and kerosene oil for lighting their home at night. Thus , snatching away of those facilities resulted in hunger among the community. This was not only a crime against the helpless Chakmas but also a crime against humanity. The Chakmas will never forget those injustice. In order to add more miseries to the already mountain piles of miseries, the Arunachal Pradesh government order the closure of most of the schools in Chakma areas. The only middle school in the Chakma areas of Lohit District was closed rendering the innocent Chakma children without education and taking away their basic human rights. If the government keeps on taking such type of steps then Arunchal will never be a 100% literate state. The Chakma children were also prevented from looking for admission in other nearby schools in Chowkham. This inhumane step taken by the state government had resulted to a generation of illiterate children among the Chakmas .And till date the middle school was lying vacant to be reopen. Is this not a crime against humanity? Those people who were responsible for this irresponsible and inhumane step must repent all throughout there life.
This injustice was not only done to the Chakmas of Lohit but also to their fellows of Changlang and Papumpare districts. In Changlang district , the Chakma student were prevented to take admission in any of the government schools. Some of the students studying in Miao Senior Secondary School, Innao Senior Secondary School, Namsai Senior Secondary School , etc had to leave the school in the middle of the academic session rendering hundreds of students school less. Till now Chakma student are denied addmission in any of the government run schools except in Innao Senior Secondary School and that too only the higher secondary student from the community are allowed to take admission.
The only School open to the Chakmas in Changlang District is the Diyun Secondary School. Where more than 150 students study in a single class room. In grade 6 , more than 250 students sit in a single class room. Can anybody believe it? It is unbelievable but it is the truth. The pressure in grade 6 in more since all the student from various villages come to take admission in Diyun. Since there are no school to accommodate the student , the Head master is bound to give admission to all the student.
Also all the schools in chakma areas were dying from lack of teacher, proper school building. Only 1(one) teacher is allotted for a primary school. Can a single teacher maintain discipline in 5 (five ) classes at the same time?
Such is the pathetic condition of the Chakma students . They are suffering due to no fault of them. Just because they are born in Chakma community of Arunachal Pradesh they have to go through these ordeal.
While writing this blog , I came across a news from Arunacal Pradesh that the government has constituted a high power committee on the Chakma- Hajong issue. If the state government is committed to solve the contagious issue then definitely they can for the good of all. The committee should include all the concern parties. Otherwise , the politician will again use this issue to gain votes and the student leaders will try to climb the political ladder by making undeliverable promises. Can the AAPSU is able to drive away any Chakmas from the state? Which is a big “NO”. They just make fool of the voters . Now the citizen of Arunachal must realize that Chakmas are also tribal like them and peaceful community . They had already enough of misfortune and now they want to build there life . Now they have became integral part of the Arunachalee society. They are born in Arunachal and want to die in Arunachal. So, don’t allow the politician to make fool of you. They want to divert your attention from the corruption, scandals that are crippling the government. Ask yourself, how much of development work have they done for you? The youth should better focus to build their career instead of indulging in petty politics. They should ask the politician to generate employment opportunities for them. May the Arunachalee society live in harmony.
I also met some young Arunachalees, one of them a son of a high grade officer , who don’t have any hatred feeling towards the Chakmas. I was the first Chakma they met in their life. First they thought me as a member of their tribe. But when I told them that “I am a Chakma”, they were astonish. They were surprise that I look like them. They had the misconception that Chakmas look like Bengalis , since they were from Bangladesh. They were more concerned about the corruption and lack of development in the state. Also they were more worried about the Naga militancy in Changlang and Tirap districts.
The Chakmas were given land in Arunachal Pradesh by the Indian Government with the intention of permanently settling them. They thought that the Chakmas can again built their shattered life in the state again . Since their life became miserable after they lost all of their arable l and after the building of Khaptai Dam . They were religiously persecuted by the then Pakistani govt. So, they were settled in the state on humanitarian basis. Also, the govt. thought that they will be comfortable living in the state as they were also tribal and Buddhist by religion. That was one of the reason they were settle near the Khamtis and Singphos , who were also Buddhist.
From the time the Chakmas were settled in the state , they were given employment opportunities like in paramilitary forces. Some were also given government jobs. There were no problem and no question of citizenship as they were given equal opportunities like any other Indian citizen. They were no discrimination towards them since Arunachal was Union territory at that time. But the problem started after it was made a full fledge state. Mr. Gegong Apang started hatred campaign , when he became the Chief Minister. He started funding the AAPSU to lead the anti- Chakma campaign . Slowly he started taking away the facilities given to the Chakmas by the Central govt. like ration cards, free books for the students , drinking water, electricity etc. When I was young I remember that we used to had electricity in our village then suddenly one fine day the electrician came and took away the transformers. They took away the transformers from every Chakma villages. From that day the day of darkness crumble the Chakma villages.
After some time, the Circle Officer of Diyun gave a circular ordering the Chakmas to surrender their ration cards, which added more miseries to the life of the community. Since almost all the Chakmas were dependent on agriculture , even after toiling days after days the don’t get enough rice to sustain them throughout the year. So they depend on the PDS for rice and kerosene oil for lighting their home at night. Thus , snatching away of those facilities resulted in hunger among the community. This was not only a crime against the helpless Chakmas but also a crime against humanity. The Chakmas will never forget those injustice. In order to add more miseries to the already mountain piles of miseries, the Arunachal Pradesh government order the closure of most of the schools in Chakma areas. The only middle school in the Chakma areas of Lohit District was closed rendering the innocent Chakma children without education and taking away their basic human rights. If the government keeps on taking such type of steps then Arunchal will never be a 100% literate state. The Chakma children were also prevented from looking for admission in other nearby schools in Chowkham. This inhumane step taken by the state government had resulted to a generation of illiterate children among the Chakmas .And till date the middle school was lying vacant to be reopen. Is this not a crime against humanity? Those people who were responsible for this irresponsible and inhumane step must repent all throughout there life.
This injustice was not only done to the Chakmas of Lohit but also to their fellows of Changlang and Papumpare districts. In Changlang district , the Chakma student were prevented to take admission in any of the government schools. Some of the students studying in Miao Senior Secondary School, Innao Senior Secondary School, Namsai Senior Secondary School , etc had to leave the school in the middle of the academic session rendering hundreds of students school less. Till now Chakma student are denied addmission in any of the government run schools except in Innao Senior Secondary School and that too only the higher secondary student from the community are allowed to take admission.
The only School open to the Chakmas in Changlang District is the Diyun Secondary School. Where more than 150 students study in a single class room. In grade 6 , more than 250 students sit in a single class room. Can anybody believe it? It is unbelievable but it is the truth. The pressure in grade 6 in more since all the student from various villages come to take admission in Diyun. Since there are no school to accommodate the student , the Head master is bound to give admission to all the student.
Also all the schools in chakma areas were dying from lack of teacher, proper school building. Only 1(one) teacher is allotted for a primary school. Can a single teacher maintain discipline in 5 (five ) classes at the same time?
Such is the pathetic condition of the Chakma students . They are suffering due to no fault of them. Just because they are born in Chakma community of Arunachal Pradesh they have to go through these ordeal.
While writing this blog , I came across a news from Arunacal Pradesh that the government has constituted a high power committee on the Chakma- Hajong issue. If the state government is committed to solve the contagious issue then definitely they can for the good of all. The committee should include all the concern parties. Otherwise , the politician will again use this issue to gain votes and the student leaders will try to climb the political ladder by making undeliverable promises. Can the AAPSU is able to drive away any Chakmas from the state? Which is a big “NO”. They just make fool of the voters . Now the citizen of Arunachal must realize that Chakmas are also tribal like them and peaceful community . They had already enough of misfortune and now they want to build there life . Now they have became integral part of the Arunachalee society. They are born in Arunachal and want to die in Arunachal. So, don’t allow the politician to make fool of you. They want to divert your attention from the corruption, scandals that are crippling the government. Ask yourself, how much of development work have they done for you? The youth should better focus to build their career instead of indulging in petty politics. They should ask the politician to generate employment opportunities for them. May the Arunachalee society live in harmony.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
WHY AND HOW THE CHAKMAS WERE SETTLED IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH?
The innocent Chakma people the the worst victim of partition, the were made to be part of Pakistan without their consent.
After the building of Khaptai Dam on the river Kharnaphuli by the then Pakistani Government in Chittagong Hill Tract (presently in Bangladesh) forced the Chakmas to flee their motherland. The building of the dam was a deliberate creation by the then Pakistani government to humiliate and suppressed the Chakmas. The other reason being the religious persecution by the Pakistani government, since the Chakmas were Buddhist by religion. Also the Chakmas from the independent times wanted to be part of Indian Union ,due to which the Pakistani Government see them as a threat . I don’t want to dig out all the suffering my fellow Chakma people had to suffered at that time as bygones are bygones. Now we have to move on and secure a bright future for the community.
About the Hajongs , I don’t know exactly how did the came to Arunachal Pradesh. But I know only the “why?”. The reason being religious persecution. They came from Mymensingh District of presently Bangladesh.
In between 1964-1969, some 30,000 Chakmas and Hajongs tribals were settled in Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian government also planned to settle them in Andaman and Nicobar Island, where they didn’t wanted to go. Since they were Buddhist by religion , so the Indian government settled some families in the Gaya District of Bihar. But due to cultural differences and climatic condition the didn’t stayed there much and returned back and settle in Arunachal Pradesh. There is a misconception among some of the educated local Arunachalees (I am a Arunachalee too) that all the Chakmas were initially settled in Bihar, which is not true.
Initially all the Chakmas were to be settles in Mizo district of Lushai Hill (presently Mizoram). But the then Governor of Assam Vishnu Sahay and the them Chief Minister of Assam B.P Chalika decided to settle the Cakmas from Mizo district to NEFA (presently Arunachal Pradesh) in order to avoid clashes between the Chakmas and Mizos. They were then settle in Government camp in Ledo in Dibrugarh district of Assam from where the were then slowly settled in phase in Changlang , Lohit and Papumpare district of Arunachal Pradesh . Since those district were less densely populated at that time.
From those time the Chakmas were living as loyal citizen of Arunachal as well as of India. But after the creation of Arunachal Pradesh as a full fledged state from 20 , February 1987 , the Chakma are treated as second class citizen by the Arunachal Pradesh Government denying rights to education, employment and all the basic human rights. They had suffered a lot from the time of Independence to till now. I don’t know when the Indian government and the state government of Arunchal pradesh are going to solve the problem over their grant of Citizenship . I am hoping for a peaceful solution to Chakma problem and a prosperous Arunachal Pradesh where all communities were living in harmony.
After the building of Khaptai Dam on the river Kharnaphuli by the then Pakistani Government in Chittagong Hill Tract (presently in Bangladesh) forced the Chakmas to flee their motherland. The building of the dam was a deliberate creation by the then Pakistani government to humiliate and suppressed the Chakmas. The other reason being the religious persecution by the Pakistani government, since the Chakmas were Buddhist by religion. Also the Chakmas from the independent times wanted to be part of Indian Union ,due to which the Pakistani Government see them as a threat . I don’t want to dig out all the suffering my fellow Chakma people had to suffered at that time as bygones are bygones. Now we have to move on and secure a bright future for the community.
About the Hajongs , I don’t know exactly how did the came to Arunachal Pradesh. But I know only the “why?”. The reason being religious persecution. They came from Mymensingh District of presently Bangladesh.
In between 1964-1969, some 30,000 Chakmas and Hajongs tribals were settled in Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian government also planned to settle them in Andaman and Nicobar Island, where they didn’t wanted to go. Since they were Buddhist by religion , so the Indian government settled some families in the Gaya District of Bihar. But due to cultural differences and climatic condition the didn’t stayed there much and returned back and settle in Arunachal Pradesh. There is a misconception among some of the educated local Arunachalees (I am a Arunachalee too) that all the Chakmas were initially settled in Bihar, which is not true.
Initially all the Chakmas were to be settles in Mizo district of Lushai Hill (presently Mizoram). But the then Governor of Assam Vishnu Sahay and the them Chief Minister of Assam B.P Chalika decided to settle the Cakmas from Mizo district to NEFA (presently Arunachal Pradesh) in order to avoid clashes between the Chakmas and Mizos. They were then settle in Government camp in Ledo in Dibrugarh district of Assam from where the were then slowly settled in phase in Changlang , Lohit and Papumpare district of Arunachal Pradesh . Since those district were less densely populated at that time.
From those time the Chakmas were living as loyal citizen of Arunachal as well as of India. But after the creation of Arunachal Pradesh as a full fledged state from 20 , February 1987 , the Chakma are treated as second class citizen by the Arunachal Pradesh Government denying rights to education, employment and all the basic human rights. They had suffered a lot from the time of Independence to till now. I don’t know when the Indian government and the state government of Arunchal pradesh are going to solve the problem over their grant of Citizenship . I am hoping for a peaceful solution to Chakma problem and a prosperous Arunachal Pradesh where all communities were living in harmony.
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