By TCN News
Washington, DC: A number of US-based Indian and Muslim organizations met today with the US Department of State officials to discuss the situation in Assam following the large scale violence and displacement in July of this year there. Organizations urged the State Dept to use its influence to ensure a lasting peace in the area and rehabilitation of hundreds of thousands of refugees who have been forced out of government camps.
The discussion called by the US State Dept began with a presentation by Manzoor Ghori, Executive Director of IMRC (Indian Muslim Relief & Charities). Ghori, who was in Assam recently visiting camps gave historical perspective of the present violence and also showed situation of camps which houses people displaced as a result of the violence. “Refugees are unable to go back due to the fear of violence and also harassment by the Bodos,” said Ghori.
Namrata Goswami of Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses provided details of the reasons for violence in Bodo area. She suggested that fear of loss of land by Bodos leads to violence against non-Bodos in the area. State government also needs to solve the perception of illegal Bangladeshi migration that Bodos think are encroaching their land. Goswami also raised the issue of free flow of arms that have not been seized disregarding one of the provisions of the Bodoland Accord of 2003.
State Department officials listened carefully to the concerns and promised to take the issue to their superiors in the organization.
Representatives of Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), Association of Indian Muslims of America (AIM), Hindu American Foundation (HAF), Islamic Relief USA, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), and Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) participated in the discussion.
State Dept was represented by India Desk Officer Dilpreet Sidhu and representatives from the Office of International Religious Freedom; Office of South and Central Asia; and Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.