Assam Bandh on 9th & 10th November For Boro Statehood

It has been reported many times that the Government of India has been negotiating with the Boro peoples, on and off, for many years. Nothing concrete has ever eventuated.

The “Peoples’ Joint Action Committee For Boroland Movement” has issued a press release, asking for negotiations to be expedited during the government’s winter session of parliament.

To support their press release, and to gain the attention of lawmakers, who are prone to ignoring the Boro people, a Bandh has been organized, in protest. So as not to cause complete dislocation, essential and religious services are exempted from the bandh.

The press release reads:

The passion to make Boroland State a reality is not only deep rooted but also wells up in the blood of the Boro people of all the ages. It is beyond contradiction that from the point of view of history, ethnic identity, language & culture and constitutional provision, they have every right to have a state of their own.

During the last forty five year’s movement for Boroland, thousands have sacrificed their lives and are still ready to sacrifice themselves for the cause. The Government of India should realize the fact that the demands of separate state of the indigenous peoples of the North East can never be resolved by any alternative arrangements.

The arrangements given to the Boro people by two Boro Accords (1993 and 2003) are glaring examples. The Government of India attempted and experimented to solve the problem by giving autonomous rule as the option to the Boro people but it proved to be a failure. The movement for statehood is again taking its bold footing at a speedy pace, and will continue until Boroland state is achieved.

We are aware of the fact that the National Democratic Front of Boroland (Progressive) is taking up the cause of the Boro people’s demand for a separate state. It has been knocking at the door of the Government of India for the last seven years and demanding to create Boroland as per the provision of Articles 2 & 3 of the Indian Constitution. The Peoples’ Joint Action Committee for Boroland Movement (PJACBM) an umbrella organization of 52 organisations belonging to various communities of Assam is determined to intensify its movement for the Separate State of Boroland and it will never ever compromise on the issue of Separate State.

In demand to expedite the dialogue with the NDFB (P) and to intensify the Boroland movement vigorously as well as to demand to take decision to solve the Boroland issue during the forthcoming Winter Session of the Parliament, the Peoples’ Joint Action Committee for Boroland Movement (PJACBM) hereby declare 36 Hours Assam Bandh starting from 5:00 A.M. of 9th November, 2010, till 5:00 P.M. of 10th November, 2012. The essential services such as electricity, press and electronic media, medical services milk supply and social functions like wedding, traditional religious ceremonies or functions will be exempted during the bandh.

We would like to appeal the people of all circles to support and cooperate with us for the greater interest of bringing a permanent peace in the region by granting Boroland State to the Boro and other indigenous peoples living in the north bank of Brahmaputra.