ga forum moots History to draw Assam border

Dispur plot to negate age-old ga-Ahom ties by pushing in Bangladeshis to areas bordering galand: UNTABA

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

DIMAPUR, March 22: The United ga Tribes Association of Border Areas (UNTABA) has reiterated that only a broad consensus amongst the tribes of galand on the border issue based on historical facts, can help resolve or delineate the boundary dispute between Assam and galand.

UNTABA, in a press statement issued by its chairperson, Hukavi T Yeputhomi, stated that the historical facts should include the British survey reports, pre-independence records, 9-point and 16-point agreements and various bipartite and tripartite boundary agreements signed between the governments of galand, Assam and the Central government from time to time in the past.

The association sought the cooperation and participation of all tribal Hohos (unions), NGOs, civil societies, intellectuals and stakeholders in the proposed galand Tribes Consultative Meeting scheduled on March 27 which, UNTABA said, can bring about the much needed consensus in “pursuing the resolution of the fil inter-State boundary demarcation between Assam and galand” and filly usher in peace and development in the whole region.

The Association stated that the border between Assam and galand should filly be demarcated based on the various political agreements made between the people of galand and the Government of India, and on the basis of historical facts through Parliament as enshrined in the Constitution of India Article 3 & 4 and as per the 13th Amendment Act, 1962.

It reminded that “almost all the states of Northeast India have border disputes with each other,” which is having an “adverse effect on development, Look East Policy and inter-commul harmony, thereby giving rise to ethnic strife and hostilities.” UNTABA noted that states like Aruchal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and galand have border issues with Assam resulting in loss of precious lives and properties frequently.

“The most tragic fallout of these border disputes is the poisoning of relationships between the domint communities of these States, an issue which has been hijacked by vested interest groups and the government of Assam,” stated UNTABA.

UNTABA termed the “whole stretch” of Assam-galand border starting from Peren district in the Southwest to Mon district of galand in the North an “imposed artificial boundary not based on historical reality.”

The association alleged that the “insidious policy” of Assam government to “settle illegal immigrants in areas bordering galand has created an atmosphere of hostility and termed it as an attempt to create a buffer zone which not only violates the spirit of the Supreme Court case on Assam-galand border row now pending before it, but a conspiracy to negate the age old relations between gas and Ahoms.”