Push Against Naxalites Continue

West Bengal police and Central Reserve Police Force paramilitaries, including some special force paramilitaries, are continuing their push against the Maoists (Naxalites). According to IBN, the Maoists are active in 21 police stations (thanas) in three districts, West Midnapore, Bankura, and Puruliya (see map).

According to the Telegraph, the Government began moving on Lalgarh last week traversing the Jhitka jungles from Binpur. From Saturday, 27 June, Government forces departed Goaltore and moved on Ramgarh, according to IBN. Allegedly, the Naxalites retreated 5 km. to Kanthapahari village.

This village is part of the plan for the final assault, according to the Telegraph (article 1 and article 2). The plan is for the government to move into the area of Khasjangal (about 8km from Lalgarh and 1.5 km from Ramgarh) and 'trap the Maoists so they can't escape to Bankura using the forest cover.'

(The image above is a notional example of the events preceding and a conceptulization of the final assault. Note the heavily wooded area between Ramgarh and Lalgarh.)

A Central Reserve Police Force officer noted the importance of the topography (probably the forested area) saying that the Naxalites are 'capable of inflicting heavy casualties before beating a tactical retreat.' In order to get a better idea of the terrain the Government has been seeking the aid of Ramgarh residents in drawing up maps of some of the villages in the area, Bankishole, Hathigonsa, Kanthapahari, Chhotopelia, and Barapelia.

Sadly, a resident of another village in the area noted that the Naxalites were preparing to use villagers as human shields.

As the CRPF officer noted the Naxalites 'have a strong base among the tribals and we are also sure to encounter human shieds.' One hopes that the Government will not hold the tribals loyalties against them when they push out the Naxalities.

It has been noted from a variety of sources that the Naxalites were able to gain a foothold and the confidence of the local residents because of the inability of the government (central, provincial or local) to provide the necessary benefits - education, healthcare, economic.

The use of human shields is very troubling. If the CRPF and other government personnel lose sight of the fact that they are there to help the local residents then they will only be breeding more resentment.

The articles mention that the troops will be taking along mortars, these are dangerous indirect fire weapons that discriminate even less than a bullet. They should be used sparingly, if at all, and only when absolutely necessary. The government cannot allow innocent locals who are being used as shields against their will to perish during their "liberation."

If the government is truly attempting to beat the threat that PM Singh has labelled the gravest threat to India's stability then they must minimize local casualties and finally make good on the promise of development and good governance.

Only then will the Naxalties be truly beaten.

The Joint Working Group

Government representatives of the United Kingdom and Bangladesh met and inaugurated the Joint Working Group to combat terrorism, as reported by the New Nation and the Daily Star.

Dhaka is seeking the UK’s assistance in capacity building, training, equipment procurement, and border management. During the meeting the UK agreed, in principle, to assist in developing Dhaka’s capability in combating terrorism through law enforcement training, intelligence sharing, and obtaining equipment. However, specific items were not concluded and the next meeting of the Joint Working Group could take place “in [the] next six months.”

Dhaka also suggested the formation of a “joint cell” as part of the border management framework. In addition Dhaka is also seeking assistance in building the capacity of the Coast Guard in order to protect the country’s “marine resources and maritime boundary.”

The Home Secretary said Bangladesh looked forward to “form such [a] group with U.S., Australia, and Russia.” Rather cryptically, foreign ministry officials indicated that the U.S. and UK have proposed Bangladesh and other countries in this region to form a Joint Working Group to combat terrorism.

Additionally, the UK Minister for Security and Counter-terrorism indicated that London is very concerned about the “radicalization of young vulnerable people in countries like Bangladesh,” according to the Daily Star. The Minister stated that ‘there is no doubt illiterate people are most vulnerable to committing terrorism activities.’

The progress of the Joint Working Group is good news, particularly for Bangladesh. Intelligence sharing and training will be beneficial for combating terrorism and border management. Cooperation on the latter will expand the visibility, and control, of the Bangladeshi government in the border areas. Coupled with better equipment, Bangladeshi security and police forces will one day be able to enforce the country’s laws in the areas that are too remote to be policed effectively, such as the Sundarbans and the Hill Tracts.

There is no doubt that these areas continue to spawn violent groups, Islamist or otherwise, due to the lack of effective state control in these areas. The British and Bangladeshis should expand the partnership to include the Australians and the Americans, in order to utilize even more resources in combating terrorism (in the short term) and effective border management (for the long term). The West has obvious interest in promoting Dhaka’s control over its border areas, as effective control will limit the presence of violent groups and their ability to move freely across the India-Bangladeshi border.

India should also be engaged in this dialogue. Any discussion on border management must include the input of the bordering country. Moreover, if the Joint Working Group is also going to discuss the Rohingya issue – Burma must be included at some point. Though the legitimacy (and brutality) of the junta government is clearly an impediment.

The Minister’s assertion that poverty could make one susceptible to messages of Islamism is only part of the problem. As the recent arrest of the JMB’s “IT chief” illustrates even well-educated students can be recruited by violent Islamist organizations. The assertion that poor education, inadequate healthcare and lack of economic opportunity are shared by many militant Islamists is not exactly novel. Targeted development aid to mitigate these realities, coupled with a drive by the Bangladeshi government against corruption will help to prevent seemingly easy recruitment from the rural areas.

However, more work must be done in figuring out why the message of Islamism, and specifically violent Islamism, is being well-received by both the disadvantaged and the advantaged.

Maoist on the wane, development, governance to rise?

The first line of Calcutta’s Telegraph says it all “Bullets cannot isolate Maoists, bowls of rice can.”

As reported, West Midnapore administrators are developing a short-term relief and rehabilitation program for the area. Besides distributing rice aid, the administrators will have to revive the local panchayats and involve them in the relief program.

The article also notes additional challenges in income generation and the re-enumeration of individuals below the poverty line. Though government records show 30,000 people (of 150,000) below the poverty line, an official said this was ‘a gross underestimation.’

In order to promote the development of the region, the block government is attempting to procure sewing machines for the adhivasi community and axes for the Lodha woodcutter community. Finally, Telegraph noted that only 3 primary health centers and a number of primary schools exist.

The Telegraph is on point with this article and another, “Rise and rot of a rebel ‘state."

Communities will naturally be more responsive to the group that is perceived to be providing direct, meaningful benefits to the area, whether it is the government or not. Now that the government has begun to push out the Naxalites, it must ensure that development continues to occur in the area. However it would be a mistake to focus all attention on Lalgarh, other communities in West Bengal’s rural areas should also enjoy rural development programs.

Aside from social and economic development, good governance is also necessary in these areas. Reviving the panchayats will go a long way, particularly since they will be involved and co-opted into the relief programs. However, corruption will remain a factor.

In northern West Bengal, in Malda district, the Telegraph also reported that an adhivasi community is demanding the removal of the inspector-in-charge of Habibur police station alleging that police were bribed not to investigate, nor charge anyone in the gang raping of a 12-year old. Her father lodged a First Information Report after his daughter named her attackers.

If corruption can be reined in, development could have a chance of actually impacting the local community. If it is not, then not only will the money be wasted, but the development will not occur (or it will occur in a lopsided way).

Such an outcome will enable another violent group to entrench itself in the rural areas – where good governance and prosperity, simply haven’t arrived.

RAB arrests JMB IT Chief, Explosives Expert

The recent wave of arrests continues as RAB forces detained 4 more JMB cadres, as reported by the Daily Star and the New Nation.

RAB picked up the suspected "IT chief" from Dhaka's Pallabi area. As the RAB Director of Operations stated, the arrest will "help us to understand that many highly educated people and brilliant students are involved with the banned outfit." The detainee graduated from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and was a research associate at the university's Water Resource Engineering Department.

Giving some credibility to earlier reports, the detainee noted that he would he would send bomb-making information through Bashar, the son of current JMB chief Saidur Rahman. In addition, he maintained a website(s) for JMB and had been to India for "training" (it wasn't specified what sort of training, militant or academic). Allegedly, he got involved with JMB through a former Dhaka University student, who now teaches in Gazipur.

Another raid in the Mukagachha (Mymensingh) resulted in the detaining of a part-time member, and the wife, allegedly a member of the suicide squad, of another full-time member (the husband was detained earlier and gave his wife's name in a confession).

Finally, another sweep in Dhaka's Mirpur area resulted in the arrest of the JMB explosives expert "Boma Mizan" (who RAB has been seeking for a while now) and his wife, though her links to the JMB aren't clear.

These recent arrests seem to show that RAB and local law enforcers are well aware of JMB's activities and evolution. As earlier articles noted, many of the alleged detainees are linked to other members through marriage or blood. If this trends continues it would seem that offspring are being indoctrinated by parents (to some extent) and that spouses could share some political views (an amateur sociological opinion). Or, some of these detainees are being pressed into JMB service against their will, or otherwise deceived into joining.

The fact that the "IT chief" is a highly educated individual presents an interesting challenge to the prevailing notion that most Islamist militants, at least in South Asia, are poorly educated and poor. That militant extremism cuts across class boundaries isn't earth shattering, but these sorts of arrests should cause policymakers and analysts to step back and ask, why? His motivation should be explored - is there a perception of the Bangladeshi government that is shared by these individuals? Do these individual share common grievances? Or is there simply a shared education that leads the students to the conclusion that murder and destruction are an acceptable means to an end?

The other interesting point is the training link to India. RAB and its intelligence wing will probably be exploring this point in detail. If the "training" turns out to be unsavory, Bangladesh should provide this information to India before making it public so as to allow India time to clamp down on the training camp (if its still there).

The arrest of the JMB's "IT chief" and bomb expert are key victories, a testament to RAB's effectiveness in curtailing the group's activities. Hopefully RAB and the local law enforcement personnel will be as effective in dismantling future extremist groups, before they set off a country-wide bomb attack.

If Bangladesh is serious about improving ties with India a good place to start would be to explore the ULFA connection in depth (in regards to the 2004 Chittagong arms case) or any other transnational extremist groups reportedly operating in Bangladesh.

Weekend Cadre Tells All!

A part-time member (gayeri ehsar) of JMB told the Daily Star that the group had briefly joined the Kansat movement in April 2006 because the group felt betrayed that the ruling BNP-Jamaat coalition at the time reneged on a pledge “to protect the organization and annihilate the Sarbaharas.” According to the Daily Star, the Kansat movement began in January 2006 after locals brought allegations of irregularities against Rural Electricity Board officials. During the movement, 500 JMB full-time and part-time cadres destroyed government property and torched government vehicles.

More importantly, the JMB is using different cross-border routes in Chapainawabganj (Rajshahi) and Jessore (Khulna) to smuggle in bomb-making materials and small arms from India and to traffic them to different “offices” located in cadres’ homes. In addition, the member also revealed that Majlish-e-Shura members are attempting to reconstitute the organization in Dhaka and other divisional towns.

He listed a few of the Shura members noting that they hail from Gaibandha, Pabna, and C’nawabganj. Though recruitment has been stalled, the JMB is focusing on recruiting family members (both blood and through marriage). Finally, the group is planning attacks “in several important districts” to embarrass the government.

This revelation has a number of important points – firstly is the confirmation that at least some elements of the BNP were aware of the JMB’s existence and actively collaborated with them. More disturbingly, these elements may have been involved in the countrywide bomb blasts of 2005, since the physical manifestation of the falling out evidently occurred in the Kansar movement in April 2006.

Secondly, though the information regarding the arms trafficking routes is probably known to the security and law enforcement forces, it gives the public and international community a much clearer picture of JMB’s current activities. The JMB is regrouping, setting up trafficking routes, and safe havens in the border areas. Moreover, the fact that the Majlish-e-Shura members are also from these districts indicates that militant Islamist tendencies are both well-developed and tolerated in these areas.

One of the Shura members “Bhaigna” Shahid is reviving operations in Bogra, the same district that Bangla Bhai was from. It would be worthwhile to know which sub-districts Shahid is conducting operations.

These revelations will certainly assist the local police and RAB forces in tracking down and apprehending the JMB groups. From the reports over the last couple of days it seems that the authorities are dealing with the JMB effectively. The law enforcers should continue to explore the trafficking routes from India and actively engage Indian local police and Border Security Forces in order to shut down these routes. This is a great opportunity to build confidence between the two governments’ security and law enforcement organizations while also dealing with a mutual threat.

However, apprehending JMB cadres and dismantling trafficking routes does not address some deeper issues. All levels of Bangladeshi government, but the local level in particular, must learn the reasons that the JMB has continually been able to reassert itself in certain districts of Rajshahi division. If these reasons are due to the local population’s grievances or advocacy by certain mullahs, local government can take proactive steps in addressing these issues. If the government doesn’t explore the deeper causes of militant Islamism and only deals with its current manifestation, the authorities will simple drive militant organizations further underground.

The danger is that the next time the JMB resurfaces it may be too late.