ITANAGAR, Jan 31: Reacting to the economic blockade imposed by various organizations in Assam resulting from the mayhem at Tarasso on Wednesday, The Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF) has appealed both Arunachal and Assam governments to pursue the matter and lift it by Sunday. Addressing media persons during a press conference at Press Club today, Chairman AITF Bengia Tolum said it will be compelled to take up counter steps if the demand is not fulfilled by Sunday. He said, Time and again, we have been facing economic blockades by Assam. It is not how a big brother state should behave, lashing out at various Assam based organizations that resort to economic blockades against Arunachal. Arunachal is a landlocked state and we have to live together, he said. The Chairman blamed CPI-ML leader Vivek Das for all the happenings that led to the incident and said that the people camping in the area were actually brought from other parts of Assam and some were from other countries to encroach the area. Even before this particular incident, this Vivek Das along with the DFO and Range officer from Sonitpur Forest Department had carried out eviction drive in the area just after the boundary commission constituted by the Supreme Court of India had visited the area when there is already a standing order from Supreme Court to maintain status quo, he said calling for booking the trio in the case and investigation into the matter. The area where the incident happened, as alleged by most of the Assam based electronic media, was a village, why only men were killed and not women and children. Out of those 10 killed, why only seven were identified while three could not be identified even after 24 hours, he questioned. Citing media reports wherein killers were identified as Daflas or the IRBNs, he retorted by saying that the CPI-ML leader camping in the area may also be the one who killed so as to create climax of the situation. Suggesting for a third party investigation into the case, preferably the CBI, he said, We suggest the case be taken up by CBI and if not Special Bureau of Investigation may look into the case, he said adding that Arunachal or the Assam police cannot be trusted for the case. Meanwhile, AAPSU, ANSU and SUMA also called for an independent enquiry into the case to find out the culprits and appealed to the agitating people in Assam to lift the economic blockade immediately. ANSU president Sikka Gapak calling out to the agitating people of Assam said, We will fight with you in delivering justice to you and will pressure the government in finding out the culprits. He blamed the Bordoloi Commission for all the disputes in the boundary areas. He said, Arunachalee people have never identified with Bordoloi Commission as it was only a one sided decision with no Arunachalee people involved. It is all because of the blunder made by Government of India that we are facing these situations now, he said adding that the state governments of both sides not being able to find a solution to the vexed issue has equally contributed to the aggravating situation. He said, The Congress led governments in both the states have contributed to the tragic situation. AAPSU president Kamta Lapung also blamed the governments in both the states for the incident. Time and again we have been asking the state government to find out solutions to the dispute but we are yet to see any solution. It is time state government comes up with solution or else we will be compelled to launch democratic movement without compromise, he warned. The team of students also expressed disappointment over the news presentation of various Assam based media houses that have been instrumental in aggravating the situation. ANSU president said, Please do not demonize us anymore. You have made the boundary dispute issue into an inter-state war. Let the investigation begin. Guilty must be punished. NESO Coordinator Pritam Waii Sonam blamed Vivek Das, the CPI-ML leader, for the incident and said that he should be held responsible for the incident. The team strongly denounced the act of CPI- ML leader Vivek Das that led to the incident. Waii Sonam further informed that NESO is coordinating with the various agitating bodies in Assam for the lifting of economic blockade. We are on the line to lift the economic blockade, he said. AAPSU president Kamta Lapung suggested that the incident area should be declared as hyper sensitive area and more forces should be deputed. Only 100 paramilitary forces have been deputed to the area, he informed. AAPSU GS Biru Nasi focusing on the after effects of the incident, assured safety to people of Assam residing in Arunachal, particularly in Itanagar. Denouncing the incident he said that rather when we should have been fighting against China we are infighting against each other. ANSU VP Tagru Tame calling on the people from Assam in Arunachal not to panic and said, We are with you. We have been brother since ages. Let us maintain the relationship. Tame fearing that the issue may infuriate further called on the government at the Centre to settle the boundary issue as early as possible. Nasi further appealed the state government to arrange bus for the students to their respective colleges stranded because of the incident.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 04:45:10 +0000
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