Dimapur, August 3 (MExN): On the current Assam-Mizoram border conflict, Global Naga Forum (GNF) on Tuesday said ‘Assam is the region’s lifeline for transportation, movement of goods, and so on. In addition, the colonial history and post-independence Indian government’s policy in the region makes Assam the political axis for the unresolved colonial problems that the Government of India has been either unwilling to resolve or is incapable of redressing in a good faith democratic fashion.’
“This dual reality of a small geographical area with immense ethnic and political diversity on the one hand, and on the other the complicated history of armed conflicts between groups representing several freedom movements and Indian armed forces, has saddled Assam with an unenviable responsibility,” GNF Convenor, Chuba Ozukum and Secretary, Prof Paul Pimomo stated.
Stating that the Assam government have a difficult choice to make, the forum said Assam can help start and create a new culture and age of collaborative and thriving peoples of the NE, rich in ethnic and cultural diversity co-existing in peace and in mutual benefit, by reorganizing Assam’s borders with the contiguous states in a systematic, fair, and amicable process, “Or fall into the temptation of allowing the Central Government in Delhi to use Assam as its oppressive surrogate in the region and go down in history as the fall-guy state for the failures of post-independence India.” The Forum expressed hope and trust that Assam will make the “right choice.”
