Assam Priest: humanitarian crisis between Muslims and tribal like a tsunami
Bongaigaon (AsiaNews)
- "The humanitarian crisis in Assam is on the scale of a tsunami" denounces
a tribal Catholic priest, speaking to AsiaNews
on the condition of anonymity, about the violence
that has erupted between Bodo tribals and Muslim settlers in the districts of Kokajhar and
Chirang. According
to authorities, the death toll now stands at 32, with 170 thousand people who have fled their
homes. Government
and police have set up refugee camps to house the fleeing people and treat the
wounded.
The
priest is an ethnic Bodo, and is in the town of Kokrajhar to provide support
and assistance to both communities. "The
reality of things - he explains - is much, much worse than what has been shown
by the local media. Televisions depict scenes of destruction, where the only
victims are Muslims. But this is nothing compared to what they the tribals are
experiencing."
The
Bodo tribals are the indigenous people of these areas of Assam. Today,
however, the priest says, "there is an imbalance between the indigenous
population and Muslims. The tribals have become a minority, the Muslims have
occupied their lands, appropriated thanks to the connivance of local
authorities, relegating the Bodo to conditions of poverty and marginalization.
"
As
a result, he adds, "about 70% of tribal families no
longer have any land, although 90% of this population survive from agriculture.
Small plots can not guarantee the survival of all these people. The result is
that half suffer hunger. "
"The
suffering of the people - he says - is really intense, their eyes are
desperate, they can not see any future. They have lost everything: houses,
land, farms, crops ... everything has been looted and destroyed by Muslim
migrants. It's like this everywhere, even in
areas where Muslims are a minority. "
In
this dramatic situation, the Catholic Church has set up other camps. "Here
- said the priest - we welcome everyone, Muslims and tribals. We hope to reach
as many people as possible, and to be able to build bridges of peace and
understanding."
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