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Kathmandu Friday February 22, 2002 Falgun 10, 2058.
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Sinister nexus
It is now an open secret that the Maoist
movement in Nepal is fast emerging as a complex rebellion with links to extremists of the
same ilk in India. Political leaders and diplomats in both countries have openly
acknowledged that the Maoist rebels are in hideouts in various parts of India. Such
acknowledgement — open or otherwise — has little or no significance unless it
eventually leads to dismantling of the much-talked about nexus between Nepalese Maoists
and Indian extremist groups such as the Naxalites, ULFA or the People’s Power Group.
Reports are trickling in that the Maoists procure their arms and ammunition from terrorist
organisations south of the border. While army personnel are combing our thick forests for
the rebels, some Maoist supremos are said to have found refuge under the protective shield
of extremists in parts of India. This is no wild guess. Authorities from both sides of the
border have confirmed this. But that is as far as they have gone. The Maoist question
failed to even figure at the recently concluded secretary level talks between the two
countries. Any formal pledge of help from Delhi to flush out the rebels is nowhere in
sight. Neither has our own government felt any pressing need to formally approach Delhi
and extract a commitment. With the global war on terrorism in high gear and both countries
expressing their commitment in profuse language, one fails to comprehend any reluctance to
break the ice over the matter and launch something like a joint campaign against the
rebels.
The gun alone of course is not the solution. A
considerable chunk of money and material has already been pumped into the anti-Maoist
campaign. Unfortunately, this is turning out to be like a square peg in a round hole. And
if this has not yet dawned on an obtuse political leadership, which still leans towards a
military solution over a political one, the recent bloodbaths in Accham and elsewhere on
the eve of National Democracy Day should have brought home the bitter reality. While
writing this, the state of emergency is being put to a vote in parliament. But if the
emergency is extended, what next? The open border gives the rebels unparalleled leverage -
be it in terms of safe haven or the smuggling in of armaments. No wonder the People’s
War has taken on a momentum of its own. It has profited much from the support provided by
Indian extremists. But not all the problems can be traced back across the border. Back at
home, law enforcement agencies have floundered in many ways. Every time there is a
horrendous attack at any army barracks or police outpost, new excuses are trotted out to
cover up failure in the field. Sometimes it is delay in the arrival of reinforcements.
Sometimes it is lack of coordination between army and police. Most of the time it is poor
communications and lousy intelligence. Whatever the weaknesses on the part of security
personnel, and no matter how frank they are in admitting to these, everything ultimately
boils down to warding them off. But this is exactly where they have goofed. The government
apparently continues to treat the intelligence service and other pressing security issues
with some disdain. This is dangerous. The state of emergency is in itself no magic wand.
It needs to be supplemented by good intelligence and good tactics. It is also a breathing
spell that should be used to take a hard look at dialogue. |
