Urgent Appeal to Media and Press in the North east

Appeal on behalf of the north east community

                                                                                                                                                              Courtesy photo

This is an urgent appeal on behalf of the north east community living in Bangalore and other cities outside of the north east. As you are aware the situation in many cities has been tense fuelled by rumours of potential violence as well as stray incidents, which have resulted in many people leaving these states and returning to their respective homes in Assam and elsewhere.

As the trains start arriving in Assam and elsewhere there will be an urge to interview people to get a sense of what has been happening and we fear that some of thee stories may be based not on facts but on hearsay and rumour. We urge the media to exercise refrain in the way they carry the stories. The reality of the situation in Bangalore for instance is that community leaders and representatives from the north east and the Muslim community have been hard at work to build trust between these communities and restore peace here. If there any backlash that takes place in Assam as a result of the stories that are carried there is a danger of there being repercussions in cities like Bangalore.

We urge the media to be aware of the important role that they have in trying to bring back trust within all the communities and report without sensationalizing anything which could be used by troublemakers. The media in the north east has played a very vital role in promoting democratic values and ensuring the safety and security of people and we hope that at this critical hour all of you will join hands in promoting a more peaceful and stable future.

Friends and members of the north east community in Bangalore. (Courtesy:kracktivist)

Let us wait and prey for the the peace.

Advani's statement will create hurdles:Assam minister warned
Dhubri (Assam): Aug 9:2012:Reacting to the  BJP leader LK Advani's statement yesterday in Parliament; Assam Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today alleged that it  would create further hurdles in the way of peace returning to lower Assam.
Headded that the people of both the communities have taken the initiative to create trust among each other and such statements by prominent politicians at this moment will lead to further complications," Sarma told reporters here.
BJP leader Advani had said that the violence in Assam should not be seen as a communal incident and no one should regard it as a Hindu versus Muslim affair or a tribal versus non-tribal one as the basic issue is between Indians and infiltrators from across the border.
"The conflict is a humanitarian problem and we should not bring politics into it. Advani has approached the entire problem from the point of view election politics with an eye on getting votes in the next elections," Sarma said.
''We had expected the senior leader to make a statement that will help in restoring peace and confidence among the Bodos and the minorities; instead he brought politics into it," he added. The problem between the Bodos and Muslims would be soon resolved, he said, through "dialogue and promotion of mutual trust and politicians should keep out of it". Let us wait and prey for the the peace.
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Ulfa asked the people to stay away from functions

Fire of unrest: ULFA calls for Assam bandh on Aug 15

Seven militant outfits also called for the boycott
Guwahati, Aug 11: Peace is not returning in Assam. Now the anti-talk faction of the ULFA has called Assam bandh on Aug 15 the day known as Independence Day. ULFA also asked the people to refrain from participating in the Independence Day celebrations. Threat came when whole the country busy to finish the preparations for the Independence Day.
In an e-mail sent to media, ULFA 'assistant information and publicity secretary' Arunuday Asom said, places where Independence Day celebrations are organised would be 'legitimate targets' for the outfit and asked the people to stay away from such spots. He, however, did not specify whether the bandh is for 12 hours or 24 hours. After the threat situation ebcoming mire sensitive and tensefull. 
Meanwhile, in a separate joint statement, seven militant outfits of the north east called for the customary boycott of the celebrations and general strike in the region on the day. The strike would be in force from 1 am to 5.30 pm in the entire region, ULFA, National Democratic Front of Bodoland, Kamtapur Liberation Organisation, Coordination Committee Manipur, Tripura Peoples Democratic Front, National Liberation Front of Tripura and Hynnewtrep National Liberation Council said in a statement.     --------------