TRIBALS – 2007 - Indian Social Institute

Sivasagar on Sunday night, was a case of ‘mistaken identity’ and that an inquiry has beenalready instituted to find out the details. A press note issued by the Army said the Army tried tostop a scooter with three riders on Sunday night, following inputs from the local police stationabout the movement of some ULFA militants in the area. “The Army authorities regret thisunfortunate incident leading to death of Sadananda Tantabai. It was a case of mistaken identity,”the press note said. (Indian Express 28/11/07)House adjourned as Assam violence triggers uproar (6)NEW DELHI: The November 24 violence in Guwahati during a protest demonstration by tribalstudents cast its shadow over the Lok Sabha proceedings on Tuesday, forcing its adjournment foran hour. A verbal duel broke out between Kiren Rijiju (BJP) and Minister of State forParliamentary Affairs B.K. Handique, who hails from Assam, in the wake of Home Minister ShivrajPatil’s suo motu statement. Even as uproar continued, Mr. Rijiju was protesting vociferouslyagainst certain sentences in the statement, alleging these were anti-tribal. Mr. Handique soughtto counter him. BJP deputy leader V.K. Malhotra also expressed his unhappiness over thestatement, saying several details about the incident were missing. As the noisy exchangescontinued and as Mr. Rijiju trooped into the well, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee adjourned theHouse. Earlier, when several members who had given notices wanted to speak on the subject,Mr. Chatterjee said he would allow a discussion depending on the availability of the HomeMinister. The Congress on Tuesday condemned the group clashes in Assam, in particular thestripping of an Adivasi woman protester. “It is most unfortunate that group clashes in Assam haveresulted in the death of one person and grievous injuries to several others,” Congress spokesmanAbhishek Singhvi told journalists. “In particular, the Congress condemns the unbelievable,shameful and barbaric incident of an Adivasi woman being stripped by miscreants,” he said.Asked if the party endorsed the government’s view, as revealed in a statement made inParliament that said the demand of the protesting Adivasis for Scheduled Tribe status could notbe met, Mr. Singhvi said the party’s stand could not be made public. “The issue is before aCommission. Our view has not been put out to the Commission. Till such time it is, it cannot bemade public.” On whether the condemnation of the incident amounted to admonishing theCongress government in the State, Mr. Singhvi said one should not see politics in everything.“The Chief Minister has given categorical instructions that such incidents will not be tolerated andsteps are being taken to bring the situation under control,” Mr. Singhvi added. (The Hindu28/11/07)Curfew in Assam town (6)Guwahati: Curfew was imposed in Rangapara on Wednesday as supporters of a bandh called bythe All-Assam Santhal Students’ Union went on the rampage in the Sonitpur district town andattacked a police station. An unruly mob from nearby tea gardens, which made attempts to enterthe town to enforce the bandh, dispersed only after the police resorted to blank firing. After adiscussion with editors of newspapers and the electronic media at a meeting convened by ChiefMinister Tarun Gogoi here, it was decided that the government would hold broad-baseddiscussions with the ethnic communities demanding ST status. He said the government wouldhelp the ethnic communities if they formed a committee, which could adduce reasons before theRegistrar-General of India why they should be included in the ST list. (The Hindu 29/11/07)Notify rules of Forest Act, says Brinda Karat (6)NEW DELHI: Terming the stripping and hounding of a woman by locals in Guwahati as“shameful,” Communist Party of India (Marxist) member Brinda Karat on Monday expressedshock at the failure of the United Progressive Alliance government to notify the rules pertaining tothe Forest Rights Act meant for protection, rights and security of the tribals. Raising the matterduring zero hour in the Rajya Sabha, Ms. Karat said it was shocking that even after the passageof the legislation almost a year ago, the rules have still not been notified. What was even moreshocking was that the Act was being implemented in portions. “The failure to notify the rulesamounts to subversion of the will of Parliament. The government is changing the sequencing ofthe Act. The government should not delay anymore and notify the rules and implement the Act inletter and spirit,” she said. Ms. Karat was joined by other members who expressed concern over