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26^th JANUARY: THE INDIAN OCCUPATION DAY

29 Jan 2002

Freedom is in fact the life of a nation. A nation may have a distinct history of thousands years; may have an astounding population with flourishing and rich cultural heritage but without freedom it is dead. Therefore it is neither a nation’s long history nor its rich cultural heritage but only freedom that can protect and safeguard the continuity of a nation.  

The Boro people lost their freedom to the British and subsequent occupation of India over our land and territory since 1947. Now the colonial and imperialist India is exploiting to the core and unleashing state terrorism against the corporate will of the Boro people. As we are occupied by India, the 26^th January, the Republic Day of India is a black and mournful day for the Boro people. Therefore, the 26^th January is observed to protest the occupation of India as the Occupation Day. To mark the day as Indian Occupation Day the NDFB appeals all to boycott the official programs and functions of the Indian Republic Day and observe a general strike from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January26, 2002. We also call upon one and all to wear black badges and fly black flags on that day as a mark of protest.

B.Erakdao

Information & Publicity Secretary, NDFB

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THE 15th  AUGUST: THE NATIONAL MOURNING DAY

ANOTHER COWARDICE ATTACK ON THE BHUTANESE PEOPLE BY THE INDIAN OCCUPYING FORCES

August 3, 2001

Having failed to fight with the revolutionary soldiers of the NDFB the Indian army has yet again drawn a card up its sleeve that is too old a trick and hardly any secret. This refers to the brutal incident of bombing a vehicle traveled by the innocent Bhutanese forest department officials and civilians by the coward Indian jawans on the 31^st July 2001 along the Assam Bhutan road near Gelephu where five forest department officials and a student was killed, and eight others were seriously injured. The example of such nefarious activities of attacking unsuspecting Bhutanese government troops and civilian alike and conveniently leveling the charge on the NDFB is abound. In the past the wicked Indian army has attacked many times on Bhutanese civilians and army men in cooperation with some antisocial elements. These cowardice acts are committed by the cruel Indian army with the view to provoking anger on the Bhutanese authorities against the NDFB and at the same time conveniently blame the NDFB to malign the image of the NDFB and the Boro people.

 The National Democratic Front of Boroland strongly condemns the aforementioned cowardice and inhuman act of the Indian army on the Bhutanese forest department personnel and civilians. We also express our heartfelt sympathy to the near and dear ones of the victims of the said heinous incident.

sd/illegible

(B. Erakdao)

Information & Publicity Secretary, NDFB

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REPORT OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY

(1999-2000)

The 3^rd General Assembly, NDFB

“Everything changeth and changeth is the only reality in this world” – as Hegel says, the world – its nature, man, and his activities keep changing every day. In a changing world the politics and political maps have been changing fast. The British Empire in which the sun did not set has now become mere a land of few islands. The USSR once boasted to be a super power occupied and dominated the entire Baltic states and Afghanistan is now collapsed and broken into 15 pieces and still facing a stiff resistance in Chechnya in which Kremlin is bludgeoned with world condemnation for gross violation of human rights. After 25 years of daredevil struggle against monstrous Indonesia, the people of East Timor are now on the way to independence. It is supposed to be the first nation to become independent in the 21^st Century. In the Middle East the Palestinian people are fighting for their rights with stones and bricks against the occupying forces of Israel and embracing martyrdom every day. Slovodan Milosevic, the dictator of Yugoslavia, who was once looked upon as the most dominant figure, is now behind the bar. 

             The present day modern India did not exist. There were many kingdoms and principalities that were ruled independently before the British came. The British conquered these kingdoms and brought under one rule and unexpectedly India came into being and become one of the vast countries of the world. But it was divided into India and Pakistan along with the demise of the British Empire.

            India is now a forced union. The peoples are suppressed of their rights. Historically and ethno-culturally there are different peoples in India. So the peoples of Punjab, Kashmir and the entire North East India have been fighting for their due rights – the historical right. But India is trying to wipe out the entire population of the struggling peoples with all kinds of suppressive means. The Boro people who are fighting for their due right under the banner of NDFB are facing the same sinister design. 

            Apart from using all out brutal military force to suppress the rightful struggles of the indigenous peoples the Indian government is using divisive means. The Indian security forces are not killing the Boro people themselves alone but also using the Boro Liberation Tigers – the out-fit which is on cease-fire with the government of India for the last 2 years – to kill their own blood brothers. 

            The sovereign territories of the Boro people had never been parts of India and the Boro people were never Indian. Since time immemorial historically we are different people. So we have legitimate right to live as a free nation with distinct culture and identity. We are fighting for freedom. For this, hundreds of national heroes have laid their precious lives and embraced martyrdom. In changing situation of the world India will have to bow down to the reality and consequently we shall achieve our goal.

             As per the Constitution we have to hold the General Assembly every year but due to some unavoidable reasons it could not be held in 2000, so this brief report covers the activities of 2 years i.e. 1999 and 2000.

Growth and strength of a revolutionary organisation depends on its ability to take action against the enemy both offensive and defensive. The Boroland Army has a good track record so far the action against the enemy is concerned. Particulars are shown below:-  

(i) Eastern Command

(a) A Major of Indian armed force was killed and another Lieutenant seriously injured in an encounter on 2/5/99 in Joypur village of Sonitpur district.

(b)  An Indian army vehicle was attacked with bomb on 14/8/99 in which 14 soldiers of Indian army including a Captain were killed in Gohpur, Sonitpur.

(c) A 0.38 revolver was snatched from an I/C of Dhekiajuli police station in Borgang bazaar of Sonitpur.

(ii) Central Command:-

(a) A BSF patrolling party was attacked with bomb on 24/4/99 in Borpeta district in which 4 BSF jawans and its Deputy Commandant were killed on the spot.

(b) Goods train of MG line was struck with bomb near Sarupeta on 31/7/99 in which 14 bogies and its engine were completely destroyed.

(c) Two pillars of tower line were destroyed with explosion near Sarupeta on 6/8/99.

(d)  5 APTF constables were killed in an attack of the Boroland army in Rupahi of Barpeta district on 3/10/99.

(e) 2 CRPF constables were killed in an attack by Boroland army in Golagaon village of Barpeta on 9/11/99.

(f) 12 bogies of a goods train were completely destroyed with explosion near Rangia on 30/7/2000.

(g) 2 pillars of tower line were damaged with bomb near Tamulpur  on 10/8/2000.

(h) Sgt. Maj. B. Khohasufung, a Boroland army and his wife were apprehended and mercilessly killed by the Indian army but before being captured he hurled a hand grenade and killed two Indian soldiers.

(i) 4 CRPF constables were killed in a sudden attack of Boroland army and 2 SLR guns were captured on 5/11/2000 in Ananda bazaar of Nalbari district.

(j) 3 pillars of tower line were destroyed with bomb in Udalguri, Darrang on 10/8/2000.

(k) 2 pillars of tower line were destroyed with explosion in Tihu of Nalbari on 12/8/99.

(l) 8 BLT activists, the armed cohorts of the Indian army were killed in an encounter with Boroland army in Nalbari district on 7/10/2000.

(m) 2 Compartments of a passengers train fully packed with Grenadier Regiment of Indian army were completely destroyed with explosion near Khandikar railway station on 11/8/2000 in which 85 Indian soldiers including high ranking officers were killed and many others injured.

(n) 14 BLT activists were killed and many other injured in an attack of Boroland army in Rangidara village of Barpeta district on 12/12/2000 in which 3 SLR, 2 303 rifles and 4 .315 rifles were captured.

(iii)  Western Command

(a) Two goods trains – one near Bijni and other near Kokrajhar – were attacked with bomb and were partially damaged on 7/8/99 and 8/8/99 respectively.

(b) One James Bargoyari, an agent of Indian intelligence was eliminated and 5 A.K. rifle and a pistol were captured from his possession.

(c) 2 CRPF constables were killed near Naigaon of Kokrajhar in a bomb attack of Boroland army on 15/8/99.

(d) An Assam police post in Amguri, Bongaigaon, was attacked on 17/8/99 and huge arms and ammunition were captured which include fourteen .303 rifles, 490 ammunition and a set of wireless. It is to be mentioned that the Assam police personnel in the said post were left unharmed.

(e) A vehicle carrying Indian soldiers was attacked near Khasiabari on 18/11/99 in which 5 Indian soldiers were killed.

(f)  A vehicle of Assam police was attacked on 15/12/99 near Khursakati and 3 Assam police personnel were killed.

(g) A patrolling party of Indian army was ambushed and attacked near Tekabazar, Gossaigaon, on 14/7/2000 in which 6 Indian soldiers were killed.

(h) A CRPF patrolling party was attacked in Bagribari, Dhubri, on 15/12/99 in which head constable was killed.

(i)  A heavy encounter took place between CRPF-BLT combine versus Boroland army on 19/10/2000 in Ramfalbil, Kokrajhar, where 5 CRPF personnel and 5 BLT activists were killed and several others injured. The Boroland Army captured 1 LMG, 1 AK rifle, 2 SLR and 8 magazines from them in this encounter.

(j) Indian army attacked the first defence camp of the 2^nd BnHQ of Boroland army on 10/10/2000 in which a heavy exchange of fire took place in which 2 Boroland army became martyrs but 8 Indian soldiers were killed.

(k) One Assam police camp posted in Rupsi, Dhubri, was attacked on 31/10/2000 and 4 Assam police personnel were killed.

(l) A heavy fighting took place between Boroland Army and BLT activists in Thangabari, Bijni, on 19/1/2001 in which 5 BLT were killed and 3 AK rifles were captured from them. Another BLT militant surrendered himself to the Boroland Army and handed over 1 AK rifle.

(m) 4 CRPF personnel were killed in an ambush near Patabari village in Bongaigaon district on 27/4/2001.

During the last 2 years (1999&2000) Boroland army could liquidate 187 of enemy forces among which 163 were Indian security force personnel and 24 were BLT activists and captured 42 arms of different calibers.

Besides its internal programmes the NDFB has paid attention towards external affairs in order to promote better cooperation among various organizations.

(a)  Talk with BLT
The NDFB has always looked for means of reconciliation. We felt the need to have closer relation with the BLT too as they claimed to be working for the Boro people. Therefore we had three rounds of talk – on the 1^st April, 30^th May and 12^th November of 1999 – with the BLT to ease the tension and fratricides among the Boro people; and as a result, 3 resolution were unanimously adopted, as such –

i) Any issue that concerns the entire Boro nation shall be decided through discussion among all the Boro organizations;

ii) Fratricidal activities shall be stopped for once and all; and

iii) The NDFB and BLT shall not engage in any sort of criticism or condemnation to each other.

        But most unfortunately, only 5 days after the 2^nd talk the BLT shot at Mr. Garla Batha Basumatary, the PDF President and seriously injured who later succumbed to the injury. They also killed one Jaikhlong Basumatary of Ramfalbil, an old mother of Mr. Uma Brahma and a civilian in Barpeta during the Parliamentary by-election in the last part of 1999 and thus violated the cease-fire agreement thereby igniting the bloodshed among the Boro people once again.

(b)  Unification/Relation with other groups
There are several struggling groups in the North East India who are also fighting against India. To fight against the common enemy, i.e. India we sought closer relation, mutual understanding and mutual cooperation among these struggling forces of the N.E. region. We are fortunate enough to have succeeded in establishing good relation and cooperation with these groups.

(c) Move for political unification among the indigenous peoples
There are several groups of indigenous peoples  in Assam. If these indigenous peoples are politically unified the rein of political power which is controlled generally by the settlers of Indian origin would be under the possession of the indigenous peoples. To materialise this rightful idea a move to unify the indigenous peoples politically was initiated. However, due to the political complexities it is still an unfinished task.

The Indian army and the BLT combined forces killed more than 100 innocent Boro civilians during the last 2 years. In order to pressurise the Royal Bhutanese Government against the NDFB the BLT activists, at the behest of the Indian army, butchered 18 innocent Bhutanese villagers and citizens traveling the highway through Assam.

15 Boro women were gang-raped by the Indian army personnel and the BLT in Kokrajhar district in 2000 and some cases of rape are still to come to light. The rape victims included minors as young as 12 and 13 years old girls.

The occupying Indian armed forces planted bombs in the houses of some of  the NDFB members including the house of party President  and also in houses of 3 civilians during the last 2 years.  

Details of the victims

(a) D. R. Nabla’s house was bombed in 1999. Even though the inmates fortunately escaped unhurt the house was completely damaged.

(b) Lt. M. Swudao’s house was bombed in 1999. The wife and a baby of his elder brother were killed in the explosion.

(c) The house of Mr. Holi Ram Basumatary, a Judicial Magistrate of Government of Assam, was planted bomb and exploded in 1999 in which his concrete house was totally damaged and the occupants were seriously injured.

(d)  The house of Sgt. B. Haoria was bombed in 1999 and his sister-in-law was killed.

(e) The houses of Sgt. B. Sangrema and Pte. B. Rwirub were bombed by the Indian army on 12/8/2000 & 13/8/2000 respectively.

(f) A bomb was planted and exploded by the Indian army at Lt. Erakdao’s house on 11/8/2000 in which his mother was seriously injured.

(g) The houses of Mr. Gojen Hajowary and Mr. Bolo Ram Brahma, both Executive Members of Boroland Autonomous Council, were bombed in 1999 and 17/8/2000 respectively. Their RCC buildings were destroyed to mere rubbles.

It is to be noted here that the coward Indian army perpetrated all heinous crimes of bomb attack mentioned above at night.

  Sd/illegible

  (B. Swmkhwr)

  General Secretary, NDFB.