Church steps up relief efforts with survey and medicines

Church steps up relief efforts with survey and medicines

Thomas D’Silva

Bongaigaon, July 28: On a day when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Kokrajhar and announced relief package assuring investigation into the causes of ethnic violence, the Church in Bongaigaonreached out to inmates of the camps by sending medical teams. The clashes between the migrant Muslims and the Bodo tribals have resulted in over 50 deaths, four lakh homeless and the damage of crops, houses and property.

Meeting the victims of violence in the relief camps, Singh said, "I have come here to share your sorrow and pain and this is a time for healing." The Bongaigaon diocesan medical teams headed by Dr. Lachit from St. Augustine Hospital and Sr. Kiran, the vice president of Community Health Association of Bongaigaon (CHAB) did exactly that- ‘the healing’.

The three government ambulances loaded with medicines carried the team to Mongalia Camp under Bijni Subdivision, about 35 km north of Bongaigaon. “Of 4840 inmates of the camp about 220 people were examined and medicines were given,” said Sr. Kiran. The common ailments being: diarrhea, malaria, skin diseases and other water borne diseases. 

This reporter for the first time could survey on a motorbike along with Banerjee Kr Basumatary, three villages- Noapara, Belatola and Sarapet and meet the victims in the Mongalia Camp. “We are happy with the security as BSF is here, but as people are eating only rice and daal and nothing else, they have gastroenteritis. Government should provide clean drinking water and build toilets,” suggested Bithou Brahma, the camp-in-charge.

NGOs like Action Northeast Trust (ANT) of Rowmari near Bongaigaon, All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) of Bijni  and others too were seen trying their bit to alleviate the suffering.

Meanwhile Bishop Thomas Pulloppillil along with Peace and Relief Coordination Committee (PRCC) of Bongaigaon made a survey of Subaijhar Camp in Chirang district to assess the damage and plan the relief measures. The camp in the high school there has over 4500 people. He also visited the Satsang Ashram there, which too has become a camp and expressed solidarity with the inmates. 

Bishop Pulloppillil has convened on July 29^th Inter Church Peace Mission (ICPM) comprising all Christian denominations to evolve strategies for peace initiatives.  A joint press statement is expected to be released after the meeting.

Bodoland burns: Assam still tense

Bodoland burns: Assam still tense

Thomas D’Silva

Bongaigaon, July 27: The violent clashes between the Bodos and the Muslim immigrants continued and spread leaving 58 dead and over two lakh homeless in Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD) in Western Assam. While Chief Minister Tarun  Gogoi blamed it on the Centre and the Opposition, the Centre was quick to act by setting up a 10-member coordination committee.

At Mongalia Bazaar Camp,  near Bijni in  the dt. of Chirang

Even as epicenter of the conflict were the districts of Kokrajhar and Chirang accounting to 40 deaths,  the ripple effects in the neighboring districts of Dhubri and Baksa too were felt, as violence and deaths were reported  from those areas.

Though Bodo Territorial Council (BTC) created under the sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution is in place since 2003 under the leadership of Hagrama Mohilary, maintaining law and order falls under the state government of Assam. Obviously the buck stops at Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s desk who also is the Home Minister.

Mistrust, conflict, violent clashes and so called ‘ethnic-cleansing’ is not new in the BTAD region. Ever since the Bodoland agitation from 1987, there have been waves of such conflicts, in which the migrant Muslims were a major target. Ownership of land was one of the main reasons and it will always be.

But the triggering point it is reported was when two Muslim youths, Nurul Haque and Mazibur Rahman, were allegedly shot dead by the cadres of the now disbanded Bodoland Liberation Tigers (BLT) on 6^th July. Then on the 20^th July, four members of the erstwhile BLT were hacked to death by unidentified persons in Joypur outside Kokrajhar town. Ensuing a full-scale riot involving the migrant Muslims on one side, the Bodo tribals on the other.

Even as 200,000 people from over 400 villages displaces- their houses reduced to ashes, cattle killed, crops untended and fields desolate- the question is- how could those involved in  violence possess and use such sophisticated  firearms? Where is the rule of law? What ‘politics’ or ‘outside elements’ (as alleged) involved?

At Mongalia Camp

Church gets into action:

The Peace and Relief Coordination Committee (PRCC) headed by Bishop Thomas Pulloppillil of Bongaigaon met here today to take stock of the situation and chalk out the plan.

The committee identified- food materials like rice, pulses, salt; tarpaulin for shelter; providing clean drinking water; mosquito nets to protect from malaria and medical attention as the top priority as far as the relief work was concerned.

It also suggested names of some leaders of influence from both the communities who could be involved in exploring the peace process.

The representatives from the diocese led by Fr.Thomas D’Silva, the PRO and the spokesperson met Chirang District Commissioner Upendra Nath Bora and expressed readiness to do the relief works. As per  the agreement, the diocese would begin immediately the medical relief under  H.C.Brama, the Joint Health Director of the district.

Meanwhile, the Bongaigaon Gana Seva Society(BGSS), the social service wing of the diocese is getting ready with a massive relief project. “We are planning a three-phase programme: medical relief, food and shelter and peace building phase”, said Fr. David Antony, the director.

Bodo tribals and Migrant Muslims Class

Ethnic Clashes Paralyse Life in Assam: Church Steps in with Relief and Peace Efforts

Thomas D’Silva

Bongaigaon, July 26: Assam remained cut-off from rest of the country as violent clashes broke out between the Bodos and the Muslims in the districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Dhubri and Bongaigaon, claiming over 38 lives and rendering over two lakh people homeless.

As the leaders of both the communities leveled charges on each other and the inaction of the administration, the rioters went about on a killing, burning and looting spree.  

All these areas of disturbance fall under the jurisdiction of the diocese of Bongaigaon. Meanwhile, Bishop Thomas Pulloppillil who was on his Annual Retreat along with 28 priests at Kurseong in West Bengal cut short the retreat and rushed back to the diocese. It took 26 hours to cover the distance of 350 km as there were bandhs, curfews, section 144 and shoot-at-sight orders imposed. 

Immediately at his arrival, a press release was issued by the Bishop appealing for peace and showing solidarity with the suffering. The Bishop is personally monitoring the situation, has constituted a Relief Team and a Peace Mission Committee. The two NGOs of the diocese- Bongaigaon Gana Seva Society (BGSS) and the Diocesan Development Society have sprung into action under their directors Frs. David Antony and Biju Joseph respectively. 

Schools, institutions, health centres and church premises have become relief camps providing food, shelter and security to the people uprooted from their settlements. But the ongoing violence, fear and panic have curtailed the movement of the volunteers and the transportation of the relief materials. Bishop Pulloppillil focusing on two areas of action- relief works and peace initiatives, has appealed to aid agencies and NGOs to lend a helping hand.

An appeal from  the diocese is already been made to Caritas India, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Northeast Community Health Association (NECHA) to provide help in four necessities: food, clothing, shelter, health and hygiene.

The tension flared up on 20th July when four Bodo youths were mercilessly chopped to death allegedly by a group of Muslims (for reasons unknown) at Joypur near Kokrajhar. This led to retaliatory killing and then the region witnessed a chain of action and reaction. Though there is a semblance of calm, but there are reports of the spread of violence to other parts of the state too.

The diocese of Bongaigaon is witness to a series of ethnic clashes. The most recent one was between the Bodos and the Santhals in 1996 and 1998, the after effects of which are felt even to this day. The church had played a commendable role in peace building efforts and rendering relief services under the guidance of Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, former Archbishop of Guwahati, of which Bongaigaon was then a part. 

Once again it is time to wake up to the need of taking up a leading role in bringing peace in the midst of mistrust and differences. “Let us pray for peace and do whatever good we can”, urged Bishop Pulloppillil  in his address to his priests.