The Hague, August 13 2007
BSG: Considering the Boros are the earliest inhabitants known in Assam and surrounding areas and have no known history or any voluntary intricate relationship with the people of India it looks only natural the Boros want to be free of being dominated by any other people.
Can you elaborate in what way the Boros want to be free to determine their own future so as to form a sovereign nation?
Nabla: Since the historically untraced ages the Boro had been ruling through out the Brahmaputra and Barak Valleys, with extension in Cachar Hills of Assam and Tripura and in some parts of West Bengal, Bihar, Nepal and Bangladesh.
The Boro people lived as a free nation with dignity and honor till the British invaded and annexed their dominions into British India Administration. The Boro people and their land was never a part of political India. So when the colonial British left Indian sub-continent in 1947, the Boro people had prerogative right to be free and independent. But since 1947, in the last sixty years, the Boro people have become subjection to another alien subjugation, exploitation and domination. Since the Boro people are ethnically, culturally and linguistically different from Indians and had no known history or any voluntary intricate relationship with the people of India, they naturally, want to be free from India to determine their own future as a free people.
BSG: Given the pressure you are in how would you think to be able to withstand this formidable army directed by the decision makers in Delhi?
Nabla: Our fight is not the competition of might. We are just fighting to establish our legitimate rights and determine our own future as a nation. So we can withstand and ultimately we will prevail over the military might of India.
BSG: You have had alliances with other indigenous peoples in Assam and beyond so the Northeast. Some were unfortunate. How are you relating now? Is it possible to form coalitions but on the basis of your quest to be sovereign?
In order to strengthen your base how would you relate or initiate relationships with similar peoples in the northeast so that united in aspirations you would stand stronger?
Nabla: It is quite natural to have alliances with all other indigenous peoples and revolutionary organizations in Assam and beyond to fight for the right to self-determination. We are natural ally and having very good relationship with all the indigenous peoples and who are fighting for right to self-determination in the Region. We formed coalition like Self-Defence United Front of South East Himalayan Region and Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front. Failure is the pillar of success – as the saying goes, the failure of the Self-Defence United Front of South East Himalayan Region and Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front is enhancing our unity and the movements. The national liberation movements in the Region are now advancing and in regular contact to strengthen their struggle. In fact, now we are working as coalition by respecting the aspiration and quest to be sovereign based on the principle of equal rights for every nationalities of the Region.
BSG: The ultimate prospect of your organization is to achieve self-determination? Please explain how you came to that perspective?
Nabla: As all the nations and peoples possess the right to self-determination, the Boro people too have ultimate prospect for the right to self-determination. Right from the USA to East Timor have fought and secured the right to self-determination, or have become independent and sovereign. So we will also fight and secure the right to self-determination.
BSG: In the North East there are a lot of peoples who are in the same boat as the Boros, yet they have different goals to achieve. When we think of Ulfa you once were aligned to, we see two major differences: first the ULFA does not want to break up Assam and second they use terrorist tactics. In what respects do you agree or disagree with ULFA.
Nabla: Not only in North East but also in India, there are peoples who are in the same boat with different ideology and principle but our aim is to be free from India. India is our common enemy. There may be some differences, but ULFA is our natural ally in fighting India. Formally we are not communicated by ULFA that they are against division of Assam. What ULFA is doing could be terrorist’s tactic to someone but to ULFA it could be the guerrilla tactics.
We have more similarities than differences in our struggle against colonialism of India. Nevertheless the NDFB feels that ULFA should spell out their socio-economic and political system of sovereign Assam. They must understand that simply the liberation, independence and sovereignty words are not enough to unite the people of Assam. The ULFA must declare about their policy on the right to self-determination of the Boro and other indigenous peoples. They must also be more distinct on the term, “indigenous” - as no Kangaroo can be the native or indigenous animal of Assam or no Rhino can be the native or indigenous animal of Australia. So the invaders of the thirteenth century – the Ahom and the others who had migrated later in Assam with different roots from different places can not claim themselves to be native or indigenous people.
BSG: The general perception of the dominant local groups along with the Government of India are quite confident the Boros have no chance in becoming independent or can have another form of autonomy or self rule. With the cease fire renewed but no peace talks to follow up on, some think this is similar to mocking the Boros. Do you think this is true? How do you feel about this perception?
Nabla: This general perception is coming only from the middle age proverb that “might is right”. Overestimation of the military might of India is creating fear psychosis not in dominant but among few parasites of India. They think that we can never defeat the might of India. Yes, of course, if we think in terms of military might, we are defeated. But we have our own rights. We have our historical rights. Freedom is birth right. So we are confident that we are just fighting for our rights. If we continue to fight with all determination India must recognize our rights sooner or later. India, in the present political form never existed before and so collapse is inevitable like former USSR.
Demand of the charter of demands and mere extension of ceasefire by India is in fact, insulting or mocking to the Boro people. India must understand that if the conflict is not resolve peacefully and democratically we are also ready to fight to achieve our cherished goal – freedom.
BSG: The Boros though their history is rich, are scattered and live by different names too. Some have become Hindu or have adopted other ways, but do not exactly identify themselves as Boros. Do you think this transformation in thinking took place because the Boros, in the past, have not been able to organize themselves well enough? How can you reverse this trend? And extended to: Considering the Boros are scattered and living in the North East, primarily in Assam, how do you think you could reunite them so they can stand up to defend their rights to self determination?
Nabla: Despite our glorious past, at present, we are exploited, suppressed, dominated and scattered. In the past, the nationalism, which is a modern and recent phenomenon, was unthinkable among the illiterate and rustic Boro people. But now the trend has been changed and the nationalism is growing among the Boro people. Lack of nationalist organizations, nationalist movements and leadership were of course, responsible for this transformation – the conversion and adoption.
But after the formation of the NDFB, a new trend has been started. A nationalist ideology has emerged to unite all the Boro people. A nationalist movement has begun by uniting all the indigenous peoples who are from the same ancestry. Now the history of the Boro people is moving. Now every body is looking back to his roots and joining the national liberation movement of the NDFB. Our roots and the nationalist ideology will unite us and defend our right to self-determination.
BSG: As the Boro Support Group is a Human Rights Organization to support the Boro people in their defense against occupation, which is a legitimate cause, yet a human rights organization cannot condone any act of terrorism neither state nor defensive army induced, organizations like ULFA have shown themselves to be using terror tactics. What are your policies of fighting against the occupational army? Terror tactics are applied with the objective of drawing attention, but not in defense of a homeland.
Nabla: For us a guerrilla or revolutionary war is the last resort against mighty occupational forces of India to free Boro people and Boroland. Nevertheless, we are not against peaceful and democratic solution to the conflict.
BSG: Compared to the Nagas the Boros are even less known to the international community. The Nagas were forcibly isolated and so no journalists or visitors could report on their plight or their losses during the wars they fought. This is no so for the Boros; foreigners can freely move around in Assam and other states of the North East. Would you consider opening up to foreigners both inside Assam as well as for Boros to go out to take the opportunity to inform the international community about their plight as a suppressed people?
Nabla: Because of the draconian laws like Assam Disturbed Area Act of 1955 and the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act of 1958 which are enacted to squash the national liberation movements of the Region and declaration of restricted areas by India government after Chinese aggression in 1962, the whole region and the peoples are isolated and less known to the international community.
We would be very happy to welcome any one, who comes to our land and report to the international community about the plight of the Boro people and the Region.
BSG When the international community knows about the Boros and recognizes its people as being part of the international community then support, mental and physical, can be generated and the pressure felt from India can then be returned. Do you laud initiatives leading into that direction? If yes, please explain how to achieve that?
Nabla: We will, certainly, laud the initiatives of the international community leading into the recognition of the Boro people as a part of international community and the pressure put on India to de-colonize the Boroland and the entire Region. We would like the international community to draw attention of the Special Political and De-colonization Committee of the United Nations.
BSG: In the past there were other Boro Organizations and some still exist; there is even an accord reached by one of them with the Government of India. How do you relate to these organizations now? How do they relate to you?
Nabla: In the modern history of the Boro, there were and are still many organizations that have been trying to upholding the cause of the Boro people. At present we have been maintaining good relationship with all the organizations.
BSG: Normally a cease-fire is between two parties and it presupposes talks to be held to solve a conflict. It also presupposes that those talks are between the two parties who are in conflict. The Boro Support Group wants to know why the talks have not commenced and why you have agreed to an extension of the cease-fire if no talks are scheduled.
In addition: the NDFB represents the Boro Nation, so it is a nation to nation cease fire agreement which includes that the Boro Nation is recognized by the Government of India to be a nation. If the Goi does not do or has not done that it means that the Goi will let the Boro Nation simmer until it gives up? I understand the NDFB is a banned organization, so how can the Goi actually talk to you?
The Boro Support Group questions you to elaborate on the idea of being taken seriously and considering the almost decade long the Goi has been engaged in with the Nagas what does the NDFB expect the Goi will do? And, if not favorable; what do you do about that?
Nabla: We have declared ceasefire to talk and resolve the conflict peacefully and democratically. But in the last two years instead of holding formal political talks the Indian government is merely demanding the so-called charter of demands and extending the ceasefire. It is just a futile exercise on the part of Indian government. Mere extension of ceasefire cannot go unlimited.
By procrastinating the talks India may think that Boro people will simmer to give up. But India must understand that the Boro people will simmer to win, but not to give up. If India can enter into ceasefire with a ban organization it can also start talking to a ban organization.
We have been closely monitoring the Indo-Naga talks for the last 10 years. But it is unfortunate that in the last ten years there is no known development. When the talks started between the NSCN and the GOI, the expectation of the NDFB was very high. But now our hope is fading away. Sincerity and honesty of India is questionable. If the conflict is not resolved peacefully and democratically we will have no other options but to continue fighting for our inalienable rights - the rights to self-determination.
For more informationVisit our site http://www.borosupport.nl/ or get in touch boro@borosupport.nl
BSG: Considering the Boros are the earliest inhabitants known in Assam and surrounding areas and have no known history or any voluntary intricate relationship with the people of India it looks only natural the Boros want to be free of being dominated by any other people.
Can you elaborate in what way the Boros want to be free to determine their own future so as to form a sovereign nation?
Nabla: Since the historically untraced ages the Boro had been ruling through out the Brahmaputra and Barak Valleys, with extension in Cachar Hills of Assam and Tripura and in some parts of West Bengal, Bihar, Nepal and Bangladesh.
The Boro people lived as a free nation with dignity and honor till the British invaded and annexed their dominions into British India Administration. The Boro people and their land was never a part of political India. So when the colonial British left Indian sub-continent in 1947, the Boro people had prerogative right to be free and independent. But since 1947, in the last sixty years, the Boro people have become subjection to another alien subjugation, exploitation and domination. Since the Boro people are ethnically, culturally and linguistically different from Indians and had no known history or any voluntary intricate relationship with the people of India, they naturally, want to be free from India to determine their own future as a free people.
BSG: Given the pressure you are in how would you think to be able to withstand this formidable army directed by the decision makers in Delhi?
Nabla: Our fight is not the competition of might. We are just fighting to establish our legitimate rights and determine our own future as a nation. So we can withstand and ultimately we will prevail over the military might of India.
BSG: You have had alliances with other indigenous peoples in Assam and beyond so the Northeast. Some were unfortunate. How are you relating now? Is it possible to form coalitions but on the basis of your quest to be sovereign?
In order to strengthen your base how would you relate or initiate relationships with similar peoples in the northeast so that united in aspirations you would stand stronger?
Nabla: It is quite natural to have alliances with all other indigenous peoples and revolutionary organizations in Assam and beyond to fight for the right to self-determination. We are natural ally and having very good relationship with all the indigenous peoples and who are fighting for right to self-determination in the Region. We formed coalition like Self-Defence United Front of South East Himalayan Region and Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front. Failure is the pillar of success – as the saying goes, the failure of the Self-Defence United Front of South East Himalayan Region and Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front is enhancing our unity and the movements. The national liberation movements in the Region are now advancing and in regular contact to strengthen their struggle. In fact, now we are working as coalition by respecting the aspiration and quest to be sovereign based on the principle of equal rights for every nationalities of the Region.
BSG: The ultimate prospect of your organization is to achieve self-determination? Please explain how you came to that perspective?
Nabla: As all the nations and peoples possess the right to self-determination, the Boro people too have ultimate prospect for the right to self-determination. Right from the USA to East Timor have fought and secured the right to self-determination, or have become independent and sovereign. So we will also fight and secure the right to self-determination.
BSG: In the North East there are a lot of peoples who are in the same boat as the Boros, yet they have different goals to achieve. When we think of Ulfa you once were aligned to, we see two major differences: first the ULFA does not want to break up Assam and second they use terrorist tactics. In what respects do you agree or disagree with ULFA.
Nabla: Not only in North East but also in India, there are peoples who are in the same boat with different ideology and principle but our aim is to be free from India. India is our common enemy. There may be some differences, but ULFA is our natural ally in fighting India. Formally we are not communicated by ULFA that they are against division of Assam. What ULFA is doing could be terrorist’s tactic to someone but to ULFA it could be the guerrilla tactics.
We have more similarities than differences in our struggle against colonialism of India. Nevertheless the NDFB feels that ULFA should spell out their socio-economic and political system of sovereign Assam. They must understand that simply the liberation, independence and sovereignty words are not enough to unite the people of Assam. The ULFA must declare about their policy on the right to self-determination of the Boro and other indigenous peoples. They must also be more distinct on the term, “indigenous” - as no Kangaroo can be the native or indigenous animal of Assam or no Rhino can be the native or indigenous animal of Australia. So the invaders of the thirteenth century – the Ahom and the others who had migrated later in Assam with different roots from different places can not claim themselves to be native or indigenous people.
BSG: The general perception of the dominant local groups along with the Government of India are quite confident the Boros have no chance in becoming independent or can have another form of autonomy or self rule. With the cease fire renewed but no peace talks to follow up on, some think this is similar to mocking the Boros. Do you think this is true? How do you feel about this perception?
Nabla: This general perception is coming only from the middle age proverb that “might is right”. Overestimation of the military might of India is creating fear psychosis not in dominant but among few parasites of India. They think that we can never defeat the might of India. Yes, of course, if we think in terms of military might, we are defeated. But we have our own rights. We have our historical rights. Freedom is birth right. So we are confident that we are just fighting for our rights. If we continue to fight with all determination India must recognize our rights sooner or later. India, in the present political form never existed before and so collapse is inevitable like former USSR.
Demand of the charter of demands and mere extension of ceasefire by India is in fact, insulting or mocking to the Boro people. India must understand that if the conflict is not resolve peacefully and democratically we are also ready to fight to achieve our cherished goal – freedom.
BSG: The Boros though their history is rich, are scattered and live by different names too. Some have become Hindu or have adopted other ways, but do not exactly identify themselves as Boros. Do you think this transformation in thinking took place because the Boros, in the past, have not been able to organize themselves well enough? How can you reverse this trend? And extended to: Considering the Boros are scattered and living in the North East, primarily in Assam, how do you think you could reunite them so they can stand up to defend their rights to self determination?
Nabla: Despite our glorious past, at present, we are exploited, suppressed, dominated and scattered. In the past, the nationalism, which is a modern and recent phenomenon, was unthinkable among the illiterate and rustic Boro people. But now the trend has been changed and the nationalism is growing among the Boro people. Lack of nationalist organizations, nationalist movements and leadership were of course, responsible for this transformation – the conversion and adoption.
But after the formation of the NDFB, a new trend has been started. A nationalist ideology has emerged to unite all the Boro people. A nationalist movement has begun by uniting all the indigenous peoples who are from the same ancestry. Now the history of the Boro people is moving. Now every body is looking back to his roots and joining the national liberation movement of the NDFB. Our roots and the nationalist ideology will unite us and defend our right to self-determination.
BSG: As the Boro Support Group is a Human Rights Organization to support the Boro people in their defense against occupation, which is a legitimate cause, yet a human rights organization cannot condone any act of terrorism neither state nor defensive army induced, organizations like ULFA have shown themselves to be using terror tactics. What are your policies of fighting against the occupational army? Terror tactics are applied with the objective of drawing attention, but not in defense of a homeland.
Nabla: For us a guerrilla or revolutionary war is the last resort against mighty occupational forces of India to free Boro people and Boroland. Nevertheless, we are not against peaceful and democratic solution to the conflict.
BSG: Compared to the Nagas the Boros are even less known to the international community. The Nagas were forcibly isolated and so no journalists or visitors could report on their plight or their losses during the wars they fought. This is no so for the Boros; foreigners can freely move around in Assam and other states of the North East. Would you consider opening up to foreigners both inside Assam as well as for Boros to go out to take the opportunity to inform the international community about their plight as a suppressed people?
Nabla: Because of the draconian laws like Assam Disturbed Area Act of 1955 and the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act of 1958 which are enacted to squash the national liberation movements of the Region and declaration of restricted areas by India government after Chinese aggression in 1962, the whole region and the peoples are isolated and less known to the international community.
We would be very happy to welcome any one, who comes to our land and report to the international community about the plight of the Boro people and the Region.
BSG When the international community knows about the Boros and recognizes its people as being part of the international community then support, mental and physical, can be generated and the pressure felt from India can then be returned. Do you laud initiatives leading into that direction? If yes, please explain how to achieve that?
Nabla: We will, certainly, laud the initiatives of the international community leading into the recognition of the Boro people as a part of international community and the pressure put on India to de-colonize the Boroland and the entire Region. We would like the international community to draw attention of the Special Political and De-colonization Committee of the United Nations.
BSG: In the past there were other Boro Organizations and some still exist; there is even an accord reached by one of them with the Government of India. How do you relate to these organizations now? How do they relate to you?
Nabla: In the modern history of the Boro, there were and are still many organizations that have been trying to upholding the cause of the Boro people. At present we have been maintaining good relationship with all the organizations.
BSG: Normally a cease-fire is between two parties and it presupposes talks to be held to solve a conflict. It also presupposes that those talks are between the two parties who are in conflict. The Boro Support Group wants to know why the talks have not commenced and why you have agreed to an extension of the cease-fire if no talks are scheduled.
In addition: the NDFB represents the Boro Nation, so it is a nation to nation cease fire agreement which includes that the Boro Nation is recognized by the Government of India to be a nation. If the Goi does not do or has not done that it means that the Goi will let the Boro Nation simmer until it gives up? I understand the NDFB is a banned organization, so how can the Goi actually talk to you?
The Boro Support Group questions you to elaborate on the idea of being taken seriously and considering the almost decade long the Goi has been engaged in with the Nagas what does the NDFB expect the Goi will do? And, if not favorable; what do you do about that?
Nabla: We have declared ceasefire to talk and resolve the conflict peacefully and democratically. But in the last two years instead of holding formal political talks the Indian government is merely demanding the so-called charter of demands and extending the ceasefire. It is just a futile exercise on the part of Indian government. Mere extension of ceasefire cannot go unlimited.
By procrastinating the talks India may think that Boro people will simmer to give up. But India must understand that the Boro people will simmer to win, but not to give up. If India can enter into ceasefire with a ban organization it can also start talking to a ban organization.
We have been closely monitoring the Indo-Naga talks for the last 10 years. But it is unfortunate that in the last ten years there is no known development. When the talks started between the NSCN and the GOI, the expectation of the NDFB was very high. But now our hope is fading away. Sincerity and honesty of India is questionable. If the conflict is not resolved peacefully and democratically we will have no other options but to continue fighting for our inalienable rights - the rights to self-determination.
For more informationVisit our site http://www.borosupport.nl/ or get in touch http://us.f546.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=boro@borosupport.nl
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