ULFA's mayhem in Assam

A series of bomb explosions by ULFA left several people including school children dead. This led to a series of protest movements across the State asking ULFA to mend its ways.

Commenting on the popular condemnation of ULFA's violence, The Assam Tribune (23 August) in its editorial 'Senseless Killings' commented: "It remains to be seen whether such protests against the killing of innocents will continue for a long time to force the ultras to think twice before indulging in such brutal killing in the days to come. The social organisations, political parties and students' organisations must play a positive role to keep the momentum of such protests against violence going."

The Sentinel (21 August) editorial 'A Futile Retraction' commented on the ULFA's demand for a referendum in Assam on the issue of sovereignty. "Today no one is likely to participate in any referendum conducted by ULFA because they believe that ULFA has forfeited the right to hold such a referendum."

The demand for removal of AFSPA

Agitation against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) continues in Manipur, and dominated the media headlines throughout the month.

Dismissing the opinion that the continuation of the Act is necessary to contain the militant activities in the State, The Sangai Express (11 August) editorial, 'Setting the Record Straight' said: "The continued imposition of the AFSPA has not been able to deal with the growing militant movement in the State and since 1980, the year Manipur as a whole came under the Act, the number of underground organisations have increased manifold and so have their influence and reach and of course their fire power." Another editorial in The Sangai Express (30 August) questioned the rationale behind continuing the Act against popular demand for its withdrawal. The editorial titled 'How Democracy succeeded in Manipur?' commented "Aren't there other laws and Act, which do not give such sweeping powers and legal immunity to the security personnel, but nevertheless allow them to perform their duties satisfactorily?"

Commenting on the attitude of the Assam Rifles personnel who refused to cooperate with the Inquiry Commission set up to probe into the killing of Th. Manorama, The Imphal Free Press (August 24), in its editorial 'Time for Reconciliation' said: "The Judicial commission must be empowered to take its due legal course. Under the AFSPA, the Union Government can give the sanction for such a probe into the action of the armed forces. It must go ahead and give it, for the pursuit of justice must be transparent so too its dispensation."

NE Militants in Bangladesh

The meet between the senior functionaries of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) at Comilla in Bangladesh from 2-5 August 2004, assumed significance in view of India's persistent claims of Bangladeshi support to the Northeastern militants. Media reports during and after the meet focused prominently on the issue. Commenting on the agenda of the meet, The Sentinel (3 August) reported that the BSF is expected to push hard "on issues related to cross-border terrorism, trans-shipment of arms and ammunition into India, illegal influx and other security related matters."

The Shillong Times (20 August) reported, "Guarding the border is really a Herculean task for the BSF personnel considering the movement of various Northeastern militant groups and trans-border crime." The Assam Tribune (21 August), quoting the BSF Additional Director General S I S Ahmed said: "Anti-India elements from Bangladesh are trying to create trouble in the border states of Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya and West Bengal. Hideouts of Northeast insurgent groups still exist in Bangladesh." The Northeast Reporter (21 August) in a front-page item 'BSF worries over growth of Madrassas' reported about the growth of madrassas on both sides of the Indo-Bangladesh border. The report said that these madrassas are becoming "focal points of fundamentalism and anti-India activities."

Problem of investment in the northeast

The impoverished infrastructure in most of the States of the Northeast has been an important factor behind the region's backwardness. The decision of the Union Transport Ministry to allot Rupees 6500 crore for the development of national highways in the region was welcomed by various States. The Sentinel (27 August) reporting on a study carried out by the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Guwahati on the North East Industrial Policy (NEIP) said "Seven years after being introduced, the provisions of the NEIP appear to have had little impact on the economies of the Northeastern States, except for becoming a means for industrial units to take advantage of various subsidies and tax concessions."

An editorial in The Northeast Reporter (7 August), 'More and more better roads' however, highlighted the problem of investment in the region. "It is all right to blame the centre for not doing enough for promoting investment in this region. But no investor would come if he knows that gangs of gun trotting groups need to be placated to carry on business unhindered."