17.12.2004 - Source:

Background information on United Bengali Liberation Front [ID 7648]

Document(s): Open document

17.12.2004 - Source:

Background information on Tripura Liberation Organisation Front [ID 7649]

"The Tripura Liberation Organisation Front (TLOF) was formed in early 1992 by a break away faction of Tripura National Volunteers (TNV). It seeks to 'liberate' Tripura from 'Indian colonial exploitation' through armed struggle. The outfit suffered a major setback in June 1992 when 218 of its activists surrendered to the authorities."

Document(s): Open document

17.12.2004 - Source:

Background information on All Tripura Tiger Force [ID 7650]

"[...]According to the available literature, the outfit’s objectives are:
1.Expulsion of all Bengali-speaking immigrant settlers who entered Tripura after 1956.
2.Restoration of land to tribals under ‘Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act’, 1960.
3.Removal of names of migrants who entered Tripura after 1956 from the electoral roll. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

17.12.2004 - Source:

Background information on National Liberation Front of Tripura [ID 7651]

"[...]The purported objective of the NLFT is to establish an ‘independent’ Tripura through an armed struggle following the liberation from ‘Indian neo- colonialism and imperialism’ and furtherance of a ‘distinct and independent identity’.[...]"

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10.2004 - Source: UK Home Office

AFSPA ("Country Report - October 2004") [#28325],  [ID 7652]

"[...]
5.29 As stated in the same report, “The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) of 1958 remained in effect in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and parts of Tripura, and a version of this law was in effect in Jammu and Kashmir. Under this Act, the Government has the power to declare any State or Union Territory a ‘disturbed area’, allows security forces to fire on any person if it is considered "necessary for maintenance of law and order;" the authorities can arrest any person "against whom reasonable suspicion exists" with no obligation to inform the detainee of the grounds for arrest; and the authorities are given immunity from prosecution for any acts committed by them in relation to the Act.” [2c](p10-11)

5.30 BBC news reported on 5 August 2004 that thousands of protesters in Manipur campaigned to demand the withdrawal of the Act after a Manipuri woman was found raped and shot by the security forces, however the latter say they need the special powers to fight the separatists. [32dc] Amnesty International made a public statement on 11 August 2004 and called for a review of the Act. "In areas declared as "disturbed" -- such as in the north-east region -- Amnesty International is concerned that the AFSPA:
• facilitates grave human rights violations,
• empowers the security forces to arrest and enter property without warrant,
• gives the security forces powers to use excessive force, including to shoot to kill without members of the security force lives being at imminent risk,
• facilitates impunity because no person can start legal action against any member of the armed forces for anything done under the Act without permission of the Central Government,
• by certain of its provisions violates articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)…"[3j]
[...]"

Document(s): Open document

10.2004 - Source: UK Home Office

Disturbed Areas Act ("Country Report - October 2004") [#28325],  [ID 7653]

"[...]
5.31 As reported in the US State Department report 2003, the Disturbed Areas Act remained in effect in several states in which active secessionist movements exist, namely, in Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, and parts of Tripura. The Disturbed Areas Act gives police extraordinary powers of arrest and detention.[2c](p3)
[...]"

Document(s): Open document

22.04.2004 - Source: BBC News

Tripura: even though separatist militants had urged people to stay away from the polls, the voting ended peacefully ("Tripura voters defy militant threats") [#21713],  [ID 7654]

Document(s): Open document

07.04.2004 - Source: BBC News

North-east India: 5 leading separatist groups have rejected an offer of unconditional talks made by the Prime Minister ("Indian separatists reject talks offer") [#21178],  [ID 7655]

Document(s): Open document