ETHNIC VIOLENCE FLARES IN ASSAM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CALCUTTA 000372

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR SA/INS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KRIM CASC SOCI IN ASEC
SUBJECT: ETHNIC VIOLENCE FLARES IN ASSAM


1. (U) Summary: Between September 26 and October 18, ethnic
violence in the Karbi Anglong district of the Northeast Indian
state of Assam claimed 73 lives. Conflict over territorial
control and retaliation between the insurgent groups of the
Karbi and Dimasa tribals has instigated the bloodbath. The
Congress-led state government, facing elections in May 2006, is
attempting to initiate negotiations and confidence-building
measures to restore normal relations between the two
communities. However, opposition political parties have
criticized the state Congress leaders for failing to respond
quickly enough to stem the violence. End Summary.


2. (U) Since September 26, ethnic violence in Karbi Anglong
district in Northeast India's Assam state has claimed 73 lives.
During the first week of October, clashes between Karbi and
Dimasa tribals left 31 dead and 400 houses torched. On October
17, suspected Dimasa militants killed 34 Karbi bus passengers -
hacking 26 of them to death -- and burned more than 125 houses.
On October 18, 167 houses were destroyed. The war between the
two tribes began on September 26, when three Dimasas were hacked
to death by Karbi militants. Two days later, in retaliation
three Karbis were killed. A "tit-for-tat" situation now
prevails, with escalating atrocities on both sides. To protect
those caught in the middle, the District administration has set
up relief camps to shelter tribals who fled their homes when
their villages were attacked. Curfew has also been imposed.

--------------
REBELS BATTLE FOR TERRITORY
--------------


3. (U) On several occasions in the past, Karbi Anglong has
witnessed ethnic violence involving Karbis and other
communities. This time, hostilities with the Dimasas have
intensified and the involvement of militant groups has
aggravated the situation. According to the police, the ethnic
war is perpetrated by militant outfits - the Karbis United
People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and the Dimasas Dima
Halong Daogah (DHD). Both groups are under a ceasefire with the
GOI, but are now in a battle with each other for territorial
control in Karbi Anglong. The UPDS demands a separate homeland
for Karbis and the DHD wants the same for the Dimasas. Both
groups claim territory in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills
districts.


4. (SBU) The Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front
(KLNLF),a breakaway faction of the UPDS and opposed to talks
with the GOI, may also be participating in the killings. DHD
Chairman Dilip Nunisa reportedly blamed the outfit's
"anti-talks" faction "Black Widow" for the violence, denying
that the main outfit was responsible. A senior Assam police
official told post that although there is little doubt that
militants are responsible for the carnage, it is difficult to
specifically identify the culprits since the site is very
remote, communication poor and the terrain difficult. Most of
the area is inaccessible for the administration and the police.

--------------
SEEKING A SOLUTION
--------------


5. (SBU) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has ordered a judicial
probe into the violence. The state government has also
suggested that the UPDS and DHD negotiate for peace. On October
18, Gogoi met the UPDS leadership, which reportedly demanded the
immediate shifting of the DHD designated camp - that are
established after a militant group has signed ceasefire
agreements with the GOI -- from the Dhansiri area of Karbi
Anglong. The cadres of this camp are allegedly involved in the
violence. The state government also plans to meet DHD leaders.
A Congress Minister told CONGEN that the government is adopting
confidence-building measures to ensure the Karbis and Dimasas
agree to coexist peacefully, since the problem cannot be solved
by deploying security forces alone. He asserted that Assam (home
of more than 30 tribes) has historically been an arena for
ethnic conflict.

--------------
FLAK FROM THE OPPOSITION
--------------


6. (U) Meanwhile, opposition political parties including the
Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
have held the state's ruling Congress responsible for failing to
stop the mayhem. They note that the Congress Party also has the
majority of the representatives in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous
Council (KAAC) that locally governs Karbi Anglong district. The
BJP has demanded imposition of President's Rule in the state.
The state unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has held
the Congress government responsible for the massacres and
demanded the government ensure no further casualties.

7. (SBU) Comment: The Congress-led Assam government is anxious
to stop the escalating violence as soon as possible. State
elections are expected in May 2006 and the government had
already been working to resolve a host of other insurgencies,
such advocating negotiations between the GOI and the major
insurgent group, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).
However, this recent fighting reflects how fractious the
communities are in Assam and constitutes a significant setback
for the government. CM Gogoi is now desperately applying
available resources to both security and political
confidence-building measures to tackle the situation.

JARDINE