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From: paturi@harvard.UUCP (Ramamohan Paturi)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Rajiv Gandhi takes a cue from the ultra-Zionists
Message-ID: <559@harvard.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Dec-85 18:14:52 EST
Article-I.D.: harvard.559
Posted: Wed Dec 18 18:14:52 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Dec-85 21:54:46 EST
References: <11260@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Distribution: net.politics
Organization: Aiken Comp Lab, Harvard
Lines: 70

In article <11260@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>, lazarus@brahms.BERKELEY.EDU (Andrew J &) writes:
> 
> The Sunday 12/15 and Tuesday 12/17 _NY Times_ contain some interesting
> news about elections in the Indian state of Assam.  You may remember
> Assam as a state in NE India where riots 2 years ago killed thousands
> of Muslim refugees from Bangladesh.  (The rioters were Assamese and Hindu
> Indians.)
> 
> The Indian government quelled these riots with an agreement, which,
> according to the newspaper, included these provisions:  1.  Immigrants
> from after 1971 would be expelled from Assam, in some cases back to
> Bangladesh.  This affects between 500,000 and 1 million people.
> (i.e. about the population of the West Bank)  2.  Immigrants from
> between 1966 and 1971 (tens of thousands more) may remain but lose
> the right to vote for ten years.
> 
> I look forward to a justification of these events from certain persons
> who criticise the Israeli government for pursuing a rather similar
> (perhaps even more moderate!) policy.....
> 

Your mission of questioning the credentials of all people who criticize
the government of Israel is laudable. Attacking is a better strategy than
answering.

It is probably necessary to attack someone who acts inconsistently with what
he says. But, this consistency is a shallow measure which helps hide the
real issues. For example, sometimes consistency can be easily achieved if one 
does not make any claims. I beleive that looking at the actions of the 
people provides a better measure.

As for Assam, you can compare this problem with that of illegal immigration
from Central America to USA. Most of the immigrants came from Bangladesh
to (a relatively more job opportunity providing) Assam. These immigrants
are to some extent competing for the same resources. One argument of the
Assam student leaders is that this burden from Bangladesh should be shared
by the whole nation, not just Assam alone. Government of India neglected
this problem of large illegal immigration and even enrolled all the illegal
immigrants into the voting lists so that government's party can benefit
in the elctions from the loyalty of immigrants. The threat to native Assamese
from a large proportion of immigrants is real (in terms of jobs and political
power).

When the Assam student leaders started agitating for the expulsion of
immigrants from their state, government could not come up with a solution.
It can not send the immigrants back into Bangladesh as Bangladesh is not
willing to accept them. Bangladesh even denies that anyone has crossed its
borders to come to India. Distributing the immigrants all over India is
also not feasible. Many other states would object on similar grounds.
The cost of rehabilitating the immigrants is also very high. Uprooting
would be quite painful for the immigrants. 

Finally, a psuedo solution is found. Immigrants who came before 1961 would not
be touched. Those who came to India between 1961 and 1971 would have to wait 
for full citizenship and those who came after 1971 would be expelled from the 
state of Assam. This is not a solution since it does not specify where the 
expelled immigrants would go to. The government bought some time by promising
the expulsion of post 1971 immigrants. People predict that problems will again
arise if the government starts expelling these people or if it postpones the
task. Sending these immigrants back to Bangladesh can not even be considered
becuase of the attitude of Bangladesh.

Any inquiries about further information or soultions to the problem are
welcome. (Back issues of NYT or Times of India would give more information.)

P.S.: I apologize for any inaccuracies in my presentation of the complex
situation of Assam. I hope others would make the necessary corrections.

-Ramamohan Paturi
paturi@harvard.HARVARD.EDU.ARPA