GUWAHATI: The All Assam Students Union (AASU) gave a memorandum to Assam Chief Minister Mr. Prafulla ‘Mahanta last week demanding immediate withdrawal of counterinsurgency Operations by the army in the State as well as the “black laws” like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the disturbed areas act which are operational in the state.

Sean this at a press conference last week, the AASU leaders Mr.

samujjwal Bhattacharya and Mr. ‘Sarbananda Sonwal criticized the ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and is partners for going back on their electoral promise of withdrawing the army from the State.

“The army is harassing innocent civilians, “the AASU office bearers said and alleged that at least three local AASU functionaries had been physically tortured by the army during the recent operations.

The AASU memorandum pinpointed three upper Assam districts— Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Sibsagar— and demanded suspension of army

“Operations in these areas. ‘In yet another memorandum to the Chief Minister last week, the AASU demanded implementation of the Assam Accord, preparation of a voters list free of foreigners’ names and scrapping the IMDT Act.

The AASU leaders said that IMDT has been the main hurdle in the identification of foreigners in Assam.

They said that they had been assured by the election commission of a new voters list after the elections. “It should be prepared now,” said Mr. Sarbananda Sonwal, the president and Mr. Samujjwal Bhattacharya, the general secretary of AASU, added that they would oppose any kind of election in the State including the by-elections on the basis of the existing voters list.

There are four constituencies in Assam, including Dispur, where by-elections are due. The AGP candidate from Dispur, Mr. Atul Bora has been given a ministerial post.

The AASU also demanded restructuring of the constitution and advocated a more federal setup for the country and decentralization at the lowest levels.

The AASU leaders expressed hope that the new Government in Delhi would adopt a sincere approach towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Assam.

The AASU has also called for absolute State control over its resources, protection of the rights of native people over the land.

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 12, 1996