1000-HR KARBI BANDH: No respite, JACAS determine to continue agitation

EMN
DIPHU, OCTOBER 29

Three days into the 1000-hour Karbi Anglong bandh and there is no sign of Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State (JACAS) reviewing its stand on the bandh. In the face of fervent appeals made by many organizations the JACAS said today that it has no plan to suspend its ongoing 1000-hour bandh saying it had waited for a month for the government to respond but nothing came forth.
JACAS is demanding for holding talks with the government over its demand for the creation of an autonomous State.
After emerging from the hiding today, JACAS chairman Khoesing Teron in a hurriedly press conference in a locality in Diphu said that there is no plan to lift the 1000-hour bandh at the moment. The JACAS chief accused the government of ignoring the sentiment of the people of Karbi Anglong.
“We don’t expect from the government to hold the talks immediately. We know their difficulties. But at least if we were assured of holding the talks in future on the issue of the autonomous State creation we would not have gone ahead with the 1000-hour bandh,” stated Teron. He then ridiculed the statements of the government that poor people were suffering due to the bandh. “If the government is so much concerned about the poor people why they (poor people) have been left to suffer with no government facilities made available to them in the last 60 years?” asked the JACAS chairman. JACAS is demanding a regional autonomy within Assam since the state needs a federal structure to accommodate various autonomous zones of Assam, Khoesing Teron added.
When asked on the legal action threat by the government against them, JACAS chief Teron said that they are ready to face any eventuality. “We have started our agitation and we cannot roll it back without any reason,” said Teron.
Meanwhile, Karbi Anglong district Deputy Commissioner Prasanta Buragohain today has notified the banning on the enforcement of ‘bandh’ or ‘hartal’ mentioning the standing order of the Supreme Court which declared that any such action will invite legal action. The notice has stated that non compliance or violation of the provisions will be treated as contempt of Court and will be liable for penal action as per provisions of law.
Few days ago, Kiren Rijiju snubbed the Hill State Democratic Party (HSDP) over the demand for the creation of a separate State when the latter had met him on October 22. HSDP and the Karbi Anglong district unit of the Congress have been demanding the creation of a separate state while JACAS is demanding the creation of an autonomous State.

NSF expresses concern over 1,000-hr bandh along NH-39
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has expressed serious concern over the ongoing 1,000-hour bandh along the National Highway-39 called by the Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State (JACAS), Karbi Anglong in Assam.
“The NSF, or for that matter the Nagas, have nothing to say over the demand for autonomous or separate state by the Karbi people.
“However, imposing a 1,000-hour bandh on National Highway, thereby cutting off the route which is the only life-line for the people of Nagaland, is a matter of great concern,” said NSF vice-president Joseph Ngouri and general secretary Esther Rhakho in a release here on Wednesday.
The NSF said the Assam government should make sure that nothing happens to any travelers and ensure safe passage for vehicles carrying essential commodities meant for Nagaland.
The NSF also urged the Union Home Ministry to take necessary measures for the safety people plying through the Karbi Anglong district of Assam.
(PTI)