Maoists clear that violence is only way to achieve their goal

Though the defenders of Maoists have been quick to blame the Centre for the death of 76 security personnel in Chhattisgarh, calling it the result of “oppressive” policies, the Red ultras have never shied from arguing that violence was the only means to overthrow the state. As the Maoists see democracy as a sham and feel government is essentially the exploitative class, leaders like CPI (Maoist) general secretary Ganapathy have made the point that “we are firm in our belief that it is only through struggle that people can solve their problems and parliamentary institutions can do nothing except create illusions”. So deep-rooted is the Maoist belief that democracy is a “sham” and “people’s struggles” are bound to be crushed by repressive classes that Maoists see Islamic extremists like Taliban as some sort of fellow travellers despite the “strong religious content in their movements”. Maoist leaders feel that “Islamic fundamentalism” was an ally in the fight against “fundamentalism” of the US and West.

Maoist leaders like Ganapathy see in Hamas and Hezbollah instances of “enormous courage in putting up bold resistance to Israeli Zionist aggression” and have seen in such “movements” in Afghanistan and Iraq expressions of a nationalist struggle against invading forces. There is no sense of discordance given the apparent Maoist anathema for religious mobilisation as is evident in their opposition to Hindutva groups. The unambiguous manner in which Maoists lay out their agenda might be a lesson to their witting and unwitting allies such as some political leaders, including some Congress office-bearers, who seek to make distinctions between Maoists and “terrorists”. While the need to address the development gap that provides tribal recruits to Maoist ranks is obvious, it is equally necessary to keep in mind that ultras are really not interested in negotiations.

The argument that “bravado” may have brought the Dantewada killings upon the government is dangerously flawed. Whether home minister P Chidambaram needs to walk the talk is one aspect. But Maoists are unlikely to put their guns away if tough talk and aggressive ground action is shelved. Working to ideological goals, a revolutionary change is their agenda. In the course of achieving this objective, ultras are adept at whipping up the poor governance in tribal areas card as a political justification for ruthless slaughter — of even those very persons who are purported victims if they are suspected of being informers. While their actions in killing security personnel or villagers are never questioned closely, every attempt to push back the Maoists is met with a clamour of “state repression”. Using their allies, ultras use the courts in a wily manner to ensure officers face allegations of extra-judicial killings while their own actions are not held to account similarly.

(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maoists-clear-that-violence-is-only-way-to-achieve-their-goal/articleshow/5771703.cms  08/04/10, The Times of India)

Naveen Patnaik receives fresh threat mail from Maoists

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s office today received a fresh threat e-mail from suspected Maoists who warned a repeat of Dantewada-type massacre in the state, police said. The e-mail sent from pgla.ocac.in landed at the chief minister’s official e-mail account this afternoon, they said. This is the second threat e-mail received by Patnaik’s office within a fortnight. The earlier e-mail was received on March 27. Asking the Orissa government to stop anti-Maoists operation in Koraput and Malkangiri, the e-mail claimed that they had been successful in eliminating 11 security personnel by triggering a land mine blast at Baipariguda on Sunday. The e-mail sender also threatened to paralyse Orissa government’s official website. The recent e-mail came at a time when the Orissa police was yet to identify its sender of the earlier e-mail.

(http://www.hindustantimes.com/bhubaneshwar/Orissa-CM–receives-fresh-threat-mail-from-Maoists/528564/H1-Article1-528549.aspx  08/04/10, Hindustan Times)

Troopers, not military, may fight Naxals

A war has been thrust upon us, says Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. But a war where the military option has been ruled out, at least for the moment. “Air power is not necessary at the moment. But if the situation warrants we can change that mandate,” said Chidambaram on Wednesday. It’s a statement that won’t go down well with service chiefs who have already outlined their concerns in being involved in anti-Naxal operations. Air Chief Marshal Naik said Wednesday, “Army, Navy and Air Force are trained for lethal operations, maximum lethality. The weapons that we have are meant for the enemy across the border. Therefore use of air power in situations like the Naxal problem, I’m not in favour.”

Part of the reluctance is the military firing or attacking Naxals who are Indian citizens fighting the state. Any use of hard force could bring with it collateral damage that the political leadership may not be ready to risk. The rules of engagement also change once the military is drawn in. A positive identification of targets is necessary for an operation and experts say that even if the force was employed, it would need a minimum of six months to orientate itself to the Naxal grid. “We can support and add to the constabulary,” says the Army chief. So for the moment, counter Naxal operations rest with the Para-military forces, supported by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The Dantewada massacre has shown that security forces will have to fight the guerilla like a guerilla.

(http://ibnlive.in.com/news/troopers-not-military-may-fight-naxals/112877-37.html  08/04/10, IBN Live)

Stay resolute

The rhetorical ground on the Maoist insurgency had already been covered and the debate settled in the light of facts. That is why, after Tuesday’s well-planned Maoist ambush in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district that left 76 security personnel dead in the worst single Naxal attack to date, the notes of discord being struck in certain political quarters are counterproductive. These seek to take the argument back to a point long left behind, one to which the Indian state cannot afford to return. Should the operations be scaled down? No. Because that would immediately cede territory recently recovered from Naxals back to them, precluding all chances of ending the insurgency. Should “provocative language” against Maoists be dropped? Here’s a counter-question: whence the idea that those who massacre 76 men after trapping them, those who for years have kidnapped and butchered civilians and policemen, blown up stations, roads, bridges, schools, burnt peasants’ crops, who have reiterated countless times their unwillingness to compromise till the state is destroyed — whence the idea that these people care about the softness or harshness of words?

The nation’s main opposition party, the BJP, has displayed realism and good faith in promising to support the government through this crisis. But its alliance partner, the JD(U), and the Samajwadi Party have not. It’s a leap of logic to blame Tuesday’s massacre on “provocation” of the Maoists. Does it occur to these critics that to mollify the Naxals or de-intensify Green Hunt, especially now, is to legitimise the rebels? If it does, they are opportunists in the garb of agnostics. If it does not, they join those activists who defy logic, in blaming “state violence” and the anti-Naxal offensive for the ambush. In countering such woolly-headed argumentation this is what had been established: Maoists are terrorists who hardly deserve the consideration the state accords to those it dares not “provoke”. The imperative is to boost paramilitary and police morale and training, not to feed the hesitation of states still unable to summon their full political will.

The Congress too must put its house in order: the time is past to question the “hardline” policy, the “aggressive” statements, which some Congressmen believe may be “counterproductive”. Hopefully, as the government has said, the goal remains restoring civil administration in Naxal-affected areas and rooting out Maoist influence. There will have to be changes to strategy and tactics, not in regressing to the Shivraj Patil years, but in taking the war against Naxals to its only humane conclusion: the victory of the state and of the people.

(http://www.indianexpress.com/news/stayresolute/601715/1  08/04/10, Indian Express)

Home ministry slept for four years on Naxal menace: Jaitley

Following the Naxalite attack in Dantewada which claimed the lives of 76 police and paramilitary personnel, Arun Jaitley, leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, today accused the Union home ministry of having slept for four years, believing that social actions were the solution to the Maoist problem. “The home ministry slept for four years,” the BJP politician told NDTV. “They did not realise the menace. They, perhaps, thought some economic and social actions will be a solution to this. They never realised that this is actually a war on India’s parliamentary democracy and a war through use of violence.” Jaitley, however, said that now, for the first time, the home ministry is “getting a feel of the problem” and demanded that the government stand on a “strong and sure wicket” to fight the Maoists.

Jaitley asserted that the whole country needs to realise that “we cannot have political compromise with Maoists”. “The state is legitimately entitled to protect its citizenry. If the state has to resort to the use of force it is a natural power which a state must use to protect its sovereignty and its people,” he said. Slamming Naxalism, Jaitley insisted, “No organised group of an underground movement can claim power or parity with the state.” He said greater co-ordination between the Centre and the states was “absolutely necessary”. Jaitley cautioned central government officials against making “misconceived remarks” against the states. “The entire country must speak in one language. BJP has always maintained that as a party with strong nationalistic credentials we stand shoulder to shoulder with the central government [on the issue],” Jaitley said.

(http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_home-ministry-slept-for-four-years-on-naxal-menace-jaitley_1368595  07/04/10, DNA India)

Jawan killed in gunbattle

An army jawan was killed and another injured in a gunbattle which broke out between militants and security forces in a forest area in Kupwara district, officials said on Thursday. Acting on specific information that some militants were hiding in Cronhama-Zechaldara forest near Handwara, 90 kms from here, security forces launched a search operation in the area last evening. During the searches, militants believed to be four to five in number fired at security forces and in the ensuing gunbattle, an army jawan was killed and another was injured, they said.

(http://www.kashmirlive.com/story/Jawan-killed-in-gunbattle/601855.html  08/04/10, Kashmir Live)

British party leader for UN role in Kashmir resolution

A senior leader of the British Liberal-Democrats Party has called for resolving the Kashmir issue through UN supervised referendum. Addressing election meeting in Luton, north of London, Wednesday evening, where councillor Qurban Hussein is the Lib-Dem candidate for Luton South, Baroness. Northover reiterated her stand that the Kashmir problem needed to be solved by determining the will of the Kashmiris in an UN-supervised referendum. She also underscored the importance of human rights and said these must be protected. Baroness added that her party believes that conflicts, wherever they exist, should be solved in accordance with the international law.

(http://www.greaterkashmir.com/today/?show=todaypaper&Date=8_4_2010  08/04/10, Greater Kashmir)

Hurriyat favours re-launch of dialogue

Hurriyat moderates today asked both India and Pakistan to re-start the composite dialogue process for arriving at a lasting solution to the lingering Kashmir issue. “The importance of a composite dialogue between India and Pakistan cannot be ignored,” the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, said in a statement here. “Increasing globalisation and the prevailing political scenario demand the two nations to come forward and initiate measures for resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiris,” it said.

A joint meeting of Hurriyat’s Executive Council and the General Council, chaired by the Mirwaiz, today discussed the prevailing political situation in the State. It also discussed ways to strengthen the amalgam, the statement said. It was decided to convene a meeting of the amalgam in the next couple of days in connection with re-structuring of the Hurriyat, the statement said. The Hurriyat had suspended its office-bearers last year to re-orient the amalgam after several members of its General Council raised a revolt against the Executive Council for taking important decisions without consulting them.

(http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/  07/04/10, Daily Excelsior)

NSCN-K warns Assam Rifles

Following an alleged early morning raid on Tuesday at the residence of its self-styled Major Ghuito Sumi at Mishikito village in Dimapur district, the NSCN-K has warned the Assam Rifles that they will be challenged if this trend continues. The NSCN-K in a statement said the Assam Rifles has conducted an early morning raid at the residence of Major Ghuito on Tuesday violating ceasefire ground rules and arrested three civilians of the village besides taking away his weapon. The outfit also alleged that the Assam Rifles personnel dug up the ground at the residence of its cadre damaging his house and also destroyed his household items. Demanding an apology from the Assam Rifles, the NSCN-K has sought immediate release of the three arrested and also return of the weapon. It also demanded that the damage caused to Major Ghuito’s residence must be compensated.

Pointing out that the cease fire ground rules clause (d) clearly mentions that Indian army, paramilitary or police would not carry out ambush, raid or attack on the NSCN. The outfit further said the peace should not be allowed to be snapped because of irresponsible behaviour of a bunch of men in uniform. The NSCN-K had entered into a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India in 2001. Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles has said the statement of NSCN-K pertaining to the alleged raid by AR personnel at the residence of Ghuito Sumi is factually incorrect. In a release today, the Assam Rifles has clarified that the house was not raided but a search was carried out along with police.

(http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=apr0810/oth07  07/04/10, Assam Tribune)

Mixed response to Naga-backed shutdown in Manipur

Everyday life came to a standstill in parts of insurgency-hit Manipur after the United Naga Council, the apex body of Nagas, called for a 12-hour-shutdown on Tuesday. Transportation throughout the state was crippled, but the call for a shutdown failed to have much effect in Kuki-dominated areas of the state. The strike came after the State Government announced that elections in the six autonomous district councils of the state would be held in two phases, on May 17 and 24. The United Naga Council is, however, against the current status of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971, the legislation under which the forthcoming polls would be held, saying that the councils would function governments tools. “I want that the term ‘autonomous’ should be retained and want elections to be conducted. And also the Act should be changed,” said R. S. Abel, General Secretary, Senapati District Olympic Association.

The forthcoming elections are being viewed with disapproval by many locals. “District elections after 20 years, we don’t know how it will be. At any election, as I said earlier, is always dividing people. Because you have all the parties who contest election, so it divides people. The unity of the people is obviously divided through these party lines. So I think even district elections will be the same, like state elections,” said Grace, the president of Senapati District Women’s Association. Over 20 militant groups operate in Manipur with some demanding freedom while others seek more political autonomy.

(http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/07/mixedresponse-to-naga-backed-shutdown-in-manipur.html  07/04/10, One India)