From: khaleq@brahms.udel.edu (Mohame Khalequzzaman)
Subject: Re: Ganga Water sharing
Keywords: Farakka Barrage
Organization: University of Delaware
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1992 20:38:22 GMT

[deleted]

>>Right now the Ganges water sharing is the major obstacle in our relationship.
>>All other issues are minor and can be dealt with.
>
>Well from an Indian perspective it is BD help for the ULFA terrorists 
>in Assam and the presence of thousands of Chakma refugees in India.

One thing is to approach a problem with all honesty and genunity and another
thing is to play a political game.  We do know that the ULFA and the Chakma
problems are an order of magnitude different.  For one reason, the help for
UFLA by BD is not a well documented fact.  The Chakma issue is a problem and
BD govt. has agreed to get the refuges back if they put down the arms.  The BD
govt. has agreed to rehabilitate them.  I am not all that satisfied with the BD
govt. handling the Chakma issue.  But who cares about what I think or say?  
There are only 20,000 refuges in India and about 3000 Shanti Bahini cadres
fighting against BD army.  I mean this 20, 000 people doen't contitute even
a minute fraction of 500,000 Chakmas.  On the other hand, the Farakka problem
is effecting the entire nation, BD ecology, environment, agriculture, navigation and else.  Besides, if India thinks the Chakma or other minor issues are major
irritants in our relationship, why India never demanded from BD that those
issues need to settled down first as a prerequisite for the solution or treaty
for the Farakka?  I never heard India appending the Chakma issue as a prerequi-
site for the Ganges water sharing.  The USA never stopped the Colorado River's
water flow into Mexico, even though the USA is faced with a tremendous problem
of illigal Mexican refugees.  There will always be some minor problem between
two bordering countries.  It is the magnitude and extent of a problem should be
a criteria in prioratizing them.

[deleted]

>I am not denying that the Ganga water has been used as a weapon for political
>arm-twisting any more than the Bangladeshi refusal to acknowledge the Chakma
>problem, the influx of thousands of refugees and the help for terrorists
>in our North Eastern states.
>
>What I am trying to say is that both sides have their greivances and what is
>needed is the political will to come to a solution. Right now that is
>lacking on both sides of the border.
>

The political will will not come unless we learn to become more humane
and unless we can stop the fundamentalists in both countries.  We will also
have to learn to admit our mistakes and wrong-doings.  Unfortunately, it
is not an inherent part of the political culture in our subcontinent.
>
>Unfortunately "average people" do not have a say in the geopolitics of 
>either country. If they did, things would have been dramatically different. 

I couldn't agree more.
>
>Samit
[deleted the address ]

Khaleq

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