The Telegraph, Sunday, January 25, 2004

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040125/asp/northeast/story_2823556.asp

Arunachal bandh threat over refugee controversy

OUR CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Jan. 24: Several organisations from Arunachal Pradesh today threatened to call a bandh on Republic Day in protest against the Election Commission order suspending all poll-related activities in four Assembly segments of the state.

的f the Election Commission does not withdraw its order with immediate effect, then the people of Arunachal Pradesh may be compelled to observe a statewide bandh on Republic Day,� leaders of student bodies and other organisations from the state told newspersons here today. The leaders, representing the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students� Union (AAPSU) and the Core Committee on Chakma and Hajong Refugees have been camping here to demonstrate against the Election Commission order.

The commission suspended all poll-related activities in the four assembly constituencies � Doimukh, Chowkham, Bordumsa and Miao 熔n January 2. A source in the Election Commission said the suspension order was issued following the state government痴 defiance of the poll panel directive to enrol Chakma and Hajong refugees in the voters� list.

Convenor of the Core Committee on Chakma and Hajong Refugees, Domin Loya, said, 哲o foreigner can be included in the voters� list. Chakmas and Hajongs cannot be granted permanent settlement in Arunachal Pradesh.� There are approximately 65,000 Chakma and Hajong refugees in Lohit, Changlang and Papum Pare districts of the state. They migrated from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh in the early Sixties after being displaced because of construction of the Kaptai dam.

Plea for peace

Nagaland planning minister Sh�rhozelie appealed to the people to 吐orgive and forget�, with the peace process gaining momentum, reports our Kohima correspondent.

The minister was speaking at the 52nd Khel Day of the Pfuchatsumia Khel herethis morning. He asked the people to pray for an early settlement to the Naga issue. 鉄ooner or later the issue is going to be solved,� he said in native Tenyidie.

Hundreds of people gathered today to celebrate the birth anniversary of this Khel.