A very
interesting post from www.Alipac.us about riots in India. This follows this post about the cost of
the president's Executive Amnesty. This follows this post about illegal aliens receiving work
permits. This follows this post about the Black Caucus hurting Black
Americans with their immigration stand. This follows this post
about how to Report Illegal
Immigrants! For more that you can
do to get involved click HERE and
you can read this very interesting book HERE!India riots: Illegal immigration is behind deadly clashes in Assam
ALIPAC NOTE: Will America be different or is this our future?
India riots: Illegal immigration is behind deadly clashes in Assam
At least 45 people have been killed in ethnic clashes between tribesmen and Muslims that started over the weekend in Assam State in northeast India, according to police.
By Anu Anand, Contributor / July 25, 2012
Indian soldiers patrol Assam state following deadly riots
Arrest of Arabinda Rajkhowa may tilt India's Assam rebels toward peace
The Christian Science Monitor
Weekly Digital Edition
But this week, the state of Assam (see map here) witnessed brutal mob violence, which virtually cut it off from the rest of India. According to police, at least 45 people have been killed, homes burnt, butchered bodies recovered, railway lines blocked in protest, and at least 150,000 people have fled their homes in fear.
At its heart, Assam’s troubles are about corrupt politicians encouraging illegal immigration at the expense of locals.
“Since 1971, there’s been a steady influx of immigrants from Bangladesh,” says Rahul Pandita, associate editor of Open magazine who’s covered India’s northeast extensively. “And local politicians gave them Indian identity documents so they would vote for them. They’ve changed the entire demographics of the area and created a powder keg ready to explode.”
QUIZ: How well do you know Asia? Take this quiz to find out.
It would be akin to state politicians in Texas inviting economic migrants from Mexico in exchange for votes, says Mr. Pandita, pitting migrants against their own citizens for jobs, education, and welfare benefits.
It’s an open secret that the northeast is the main entry point for millions of illegal Bangladeshi migrants into India. From there, they travel into Indian towns and cities, providing a cheap, useful work force. But in places like Assam, they also change electoral politics.
This week’s ethnic clashes involved one of Assam’s tribal communities – the Bodo people – against Bengali speaking Muslim migrants. The violence was initially sparked by the death of four Bodo men, but signifies a much wider conflict.
“The borders are so porous,” says Pandita. “A Bangladeshi laborer can bribe his border guards and Indian border guards, come into India, earn a few dollars, and go back the way he came every day.”
By Wednesday evening, the debate over illegal immigration had exploded on Indian television with journalists challenging state and national politicians.
A correspondent for the Times Now channel reported that Bangladesh’s foreign minister told him that the subject of illegal immigration had never been raised by India.
The government denies the charge.
Meanwhile, with local police unable to cope, Assam called in Indian Army forces who were given “shoot on sight” orders to quell the clashes. By Wednesday evening, armed forces had shot dead five people.
"Both sides are in fear,” says Binod Ringania, a journalist in the state capital, Guwahati. “They are scared that in the night, they might be attacked by the other side, so they are fleeing into towns and taking refuge in government offices and schools.”
But according to Pandita, brute force is no answer to this problem that’s been decades in the making.
“Millions of people are entering your country and you are appeasing them to the extent that your own citizens feel threatened,” he says. “A man who is 70 sees all these outsiders taking over all farmland, shops. His son has no ration card, no job, so he’s going to react. For short term electoral gain, politicians have created this problem.”
India riots: Illegal immigration is behind deadly clashes in Assam
At least 45 people have been killed in ethnic clashes between tribesmen and Muslims that started over the weekend in Assam State in northeast India, according to police.
By Anu Anand, Contributor / July 25, 2012
Indian soldiers patrol Assam state following deadly riots
Arrest of Arabinda Rajkhowa may tilt India's Assam rebels toward peace
The Christian Science Monitor
Weekly Digital Edition
But this week, the state of Assam (see map here) witnessed brutal mob violence, which virtually cut it off from the rest of India. According to police, at least 45 people have been killed, homes burnt, butchered bodies recovered, railway lines blocked in protest, and at least 150,000 people have fled their homes in fear.
At its heart, Assam’s troubles are about corrupt politicians encouraging illegal immigration at the expense of locals.
“Since 1971, there’s been a steady influx of immigrants from Bangladesh,” says Rahul Pandita, associate editor of Open magazine who’s covered India’s northeast extensively. “And local politicians gave them Indian identity documents so they would vote for them. They’ve changed the entire demographics of the area and created a powder keg ready to explode.”
QUIZ: How well do you know Asia? Take this quiz to find out.
It would be akin to state politicians in Texas inviting economic migrants from Mexico in exchange for votes, says Mr. Pandita, pitting migrants against their own citizens for jobs, education, and welfare benefits.
It’s an open secret that the northeast is the main entry point for millions of illegal Bangladeshi migrants into India. From there, they travel into Indian towns and cities, providing a cheap, useful work force. But in places like Assam, they also change electoral politics.
This week’s ethnic clashes involved one of Assam’s tribal communities – the Bodo people – against Bengali speaking Muslim migrants. The violence was initially sparked by the death of four Bodo men, but signifies a much wider conflict.
“The borders are so porous,” says Pandita. “A Bangladeshi laborer can bribe his border guards and Indian border guards, come into India, earn a few dollars, and go back the way he came every day.”
By Wednesday evening, the debate over illegal immigration had exploded on Indian television with journalists challenging state and national politicians.
A correspondent for the Times Now channel reported that Bangladesh’s foreign minister told him that the subject of illegal immigration had never been raised by India.
The government denies the charge.
Meanwhile, with local police unable to cope, Assam called in Indian Army forces who were given “shoot on sight” orders to quell the clashes. By Wednesday evening, armed forces had shot dead five people.
"Both sides are in fear,” says Binod Ringania, a journalist in the state capital, Guwahati. “They are scared that in the night, they might be attacked by the other side, so they are fleeing into towns and taking refuge in government offices and schools.”
But according to Pandita, brute force is no answer to this problem that’s been decades in the making.
“Millions of people are entering your country and you are appeasing them to the extent that your own citizens feel threatened,” he says. “A man who is 70 sees all these outsiders taking over all farmland, shops. His son has no ration card, no job, so he’s going to react. For short term electoral gain, politicians have created this problem.”
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment