All is not well in Northeast and Maoist India
India celebrated the Independence Day on August 15 amid black flag
fluttering atop houses and trees in the Maoist dominated areas in the
so-called red corridor from Bihar down to Orissa. In northeast states,
threats to disrupt public life by militant outfits fighting for
independence from India passed off the day in panic and tension.
Collective leadership of NSCN outfit of Nagaland Iak Swu and Th
Muivah, who refused to be part of India, celebrated the Naga
Independence Day on August 13. They hoisted Naga flag, held parade by
its army. The function was attended by leaders of cross sections of
people.
As the Arabinda Rajkhowa of ULFA pro-talks faction was meeting Home
Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi on Augut 5, ULFA army chief Paresh
Baruah convened a meeting of about 30 militant outfits at his base in
Myanmar, it is learnt through Internet. The meeting began with special
prayer seeking divine blessings for early recovery of ailing music
maestro Bhupen Hazarika and distinguished writer Indira Goswami of
Assam. Presided over by NSCN-K chairman SS Khaplong, the meeting
finalized common strategy to fight the government forces. Describing
the meeting a dangerous development, media report said for a
collective fight they have procured sophisticated weapons.
In Orissa, Maoists observed three-day bandh from August 13 bringing
normal life to a standstill in areas dominated by the red rebels. They
attacked a camp of paramilitary troops in Jharkhand on August 15. The
troops returned the fire starting a fierce fight that did not last
long. Casualties, if any, were not known.
High Court bans SPOs
Security forces have admitted that the anti-Maoist operation was
badly affected by the Chhattisgarh High Court verdict banning and
disarming special police officers (SPOs). Hundreds of villagers in
tribal areas, including teenage boys were engaged as SPOs on contract
basis. Having knowledge of the forest areas and possible hideouts of
the militants they used to lead the paratroopers in anti-Maoist
operation. The government has moved the Supreme Court seeking to
upturn the High Court verdict. Home Ministry has said policing is
exclusively in the domain of the executive. Judiciary could not, under
the constitution, interfere in policy decisions taken by the
executive.
The government move was strongly opposed by different circles who
said SPOs engaged in atrocities. Ajit Jogi, senior Congress leader and
former chief minister of Chhattisgarh said, "everyone wants peace, but
Salwa Judum (SPOs) has led to virtual decimation of tribals and their
culture .....Till the time there exist poverty, unemployment, lack of
primary health care and police atrocities, if not Naxalbadi some other
wadi will definitely come up."
Picking up of a villager and shooting him down by the security
forces in Dantewada on August 12 escalated sparked strong protest
across the district. Sharply reacting Kawasi Lachma, local MLA, said
killing of villagers in the name of Maoists is an act of cowardice.
"Security forces in the Baster region have now become the killers."
Manish Kunjam, president of All India Adivasi Mahashavha, an
influential tribal body in Chhattisgarh vowed to continue protest and
stir till the police atrocities are not stopped. He blamed SPOs of
regularly indulging in arson and loot. Drunk on power and alcohol SPOs
killed and oppressed the innocent villagers. Ignoring widespread
protests, the government is hell bound to legalize SPOs. Chidambaram
has planned to bring back SPOs in any form and style, even if the
Supreme Court upheld the ban verdict.
Terror force
Citing an example of the extent of atrocities by security forces in
the name of anti-Maoist operation under caption 'Terror Force in
Chhattisgarh'" prestigious Frontline magazine of India wrote in its
August 13 issue, about 400 paratroopers led by SPOs entered a village
on March 11 this year and set everything on fire, fleeing women were
raped. A man tried to protect the women was shot dead. Granaries and
207 homes in one village were burnt to ashes.
The rise of the Maoists is attributed to the growing poverty and
deprivation of the masses, especially tribals, advasis and low caste
Hindus (harijan). Maoists now holds one-third of India under their
tentacles, spreading into the interiors of 20 out of 28 states and
also the major cities including the capital New Delhi.
Praful Bidwai in his latest column in Frontline headlined 'Shining
& Starving' said income and regional disparities have got bloated to a
point where the country's rich and poor live in two separate worlds.
"Suicide of 200,000 farmers over 12 years (an unprecedented tragedy in
history), the uprooting and marginalisation of millions of vulnerable
people, including Adivasis, and rising unemployment and
informalisation of work, which is causing great human misery and
insecurity.... Animal spirit of entrepreneurs, license-permit Raj and
collusion between business and politics have given rise to widespread
poverty and deprivation."
Boasting of about 8 percent GDP growth and 'Shining India' is
meaningless to the masses as its benefit reaches to barely 10 percent
of the people.
http://www.weeklyholiday.net/front.html#10
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