Assamese people

The Assamese have four of the factors that increase the likelihood of continuing rebellion: current rebellion; territorial concentration; generally high levels of group organization; and repression by state authorities. Factors that could inhibit rebellion include India's stable history of democratic rule, Indian-Bhutanese cooperation to limit cross-border sanctuary for ULFA members, and India's tradition of attempting to reach settlements with groups seeking autonomy or independence. The Assamese reside in their historical region of residence, what is now known as the northeast Indian state of Assam. They began moving into the area from Burma in the 13th century. There has been little migration of Assamese across regions; however, there have been large-scale influxes of Muslim Bangladeshis into Assam which has exacerbated intergroup relations. Assam is well-known for its tea plantations, but the state is also a significant supplier of India's petroleum and natural gas. Group members speak primarily Assamese, an Indo-Aryan language with many specific dialects, though many can also speak Bengali (LANG = 1), While most are Hindus, some are Muslims (BELIEF = 0). The Assamese social customs have more in common with other indigenous groups in the northeast of India than with the country's majority Hindus (CUSTOM = 1). When the British took over Assam in 1826, they began to encourage migration from East Bengal to help provide a labor force for the cultivation of tea. Some 6.5 million immigrants have settled in the state since the early 1900s. Colonial policy favored the Bengali speakers who dominated the bureaucratic structures. Several hundred thousand Bengalis entered Assam as a result of the 1947 partition of the subcontinent and the creation of India and Pakistan. In 1956, India was reorganized on a linguistic basis and the territory of Assam was divided to create four new states. Assam was the recipient of further Bengali migrations when India's military intervention in 1971 led to the secession of East Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh. The Assamese are at risk as they are disadvantaged due to past discrimination and they support political organizations that press for greater group rights. Explicit public policies are in place to address Assamese underrepresentation in the economic sphere (ECDIS06 = 1). For example, in 2002, the federal government announced the creation of an IT call center in Assam to provide more than 600 jobs. This is one example of the government's attempts to develop the region's technology industry. Direct rule was imposed on the state in 1990, due to widespread violence committed by the United Liberation Front of Assam and other armed groups, reversing the remedial policies involved in decentralization of power (POLDIS06 = 2). The Assamese are concerned about protecting their way of life due to influxes of Bengali speakers who are still dominant in the bureaucratic and key private sectors. The majority of the group also supports obtaining widespread regional autonomy; but the major militant group, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), is seeking independence (; POLGR04-06 = 4; SEPX = 3). Additional grievances include the working conditions and wages of tea plantation workers, who are a major force in the local economy. In the late 1970s, the All Assam Students Union (AASU) launched a major campaign against Bengali immigration while also pressing for greater job opportunities (PROT75X = 3). Group members were demanding that the federal government redress its neglect of the northeast through explicit economic development plans. In an effort to address Assamese grievances, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi reached an accord with the AASU in 1985. The agreement covered issues such as immigration and economic development and the holding of state elections. An Assamese party, the Asom Gana Parishad, won the 1985 state elections but the accord fell apart due to a lack of implementation of the othe