Second Book Released

My second book was released today on 22 May 14

http://www.vijbooks.com/book/290/Akshaya-Handa/China-s-Geo-Strategy-and-International-Behaviour/9789382652663.html

A Strategy to Deal with Naxalism

In the wake of the 25 May 13 ambush by Maoist’s a large number of articles have appeared in various newspapers and journals with respect to the Maoists. The common themes in all include

The Maoist’s have filled the vacuum left by the governance deficit in the area.
The need to ensure that the society is not a part of operations and thereby not exacerbate the socio-economic-political problem {and yet some author’s (like the article Chhattisgarh Massacre by D Suba Chandran published in the Tribune on 05 Jun 13) have justified need for coercive force against the Maoists}.
The large number of tactical advantages enjoyed by the Maoists.
Firstly, the contention that the Naxals have moved into the vacuum left by the governance deficit due to the state abandoning its primary responsibility fails to define why the same government structures have succeeded in some parts to keep the Naxals out. Maharashtra is a case in point where only the district of Gadchiroli has been affected even though other areas (notably Vidarbha) are much worst. Further, those who thus seek to portray the Maoist’s as ‘Robin Hood’s’ or ‘’Gandhians with Guns’ are unable to justify how destroying schools, stopping road construction etc would fill this governance vacuum and lead to betterment of the population. These actions only go to prove that the actions of the Maoists are inspired by a pure lust for power and, violence against the state forces while keeping the population ignorant and backward is their chosen route.

In this context, it needs to be noted that in 2004 the Maoists were divided and on the ropes when an ill conceived ceasefire was announced which allowed the Maoists to not only bounce back but also to affect a merger between Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist), People's War (People's War Group), and the Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI) – the rest is history. The so called governance deficit has been a constant prior to, during and after this transition. The point is that while governance deficits may exist or maybe claimed military means to subdue the insurgency and create a semblance of security are a must before governance issues can really be addressed. No society or nation has ever out developed an ongoing insurgency.

Secondly, the contention that the counter insurgency strategy has to ensure that society is not a part of military operations seems to suggest that the latter have to operate in isolation. This is a sure recipe for failure. No counter insurgency strategy can ever succeed without society and military operations being in synch. Yes, Salwa Judam was an aberration as it sought society’s involvement to an undesirable extreme. The majority of the population are fence sitters, who to survive side with the one who at that point is more powerful. Unless these fence sitters are galvanised a counter insurgency strategy would fail. One such example is the ongoing situation in Panjwai Afghanistan where local discontent has been galvanised leading to a virtual eviction of the Taliban from its birthplace. Even in India, South Asia Terrorist Portal cites at least nine cases of lynching of Maoists by the locals in 2009 in Jharkhand alone. Many more of such incidents from other areas are being reported by various agencies before and since. However, nothing has been reported of galvanising this discontent.

Thirdly the contention by some that the CRPF has no other option other than using coercive force – is misleading and would only exacerbate the problem. Coercive force when used only alienates people further and historically has never solved any insurgency. The Sri Lankan forces tried it but could not tame the LTTE till the latter did a mistake of fighting conventionally. Similar tactics in Algeria ensured that the French won the war militarily but lost it politically. Even within the country our Army has set high standards of success without coercive force in Kashmir, Punjab and North East. It was also a highlight of the much talked about Andhra model.

Any strategy needs to target the opponent’s weaknesses which need to be analysed –the advantages enjoyed by the Naxals point at best to the defensive measures that the forces need to implement. These weaknesses of the Naxals need to be analysed and exploited.

The first is their leadership, which is essentially Telgu in character while the rank and file is local. A lot of discontent on the issue is being reported. In Orissa, this led to the expulsion of Sabyasachi Panda, who had floated his own outfit – the Odisha Maovadi Party (OMP). Initial support to such breakaway groups, using them for intelligence and slowly converting them is tactic employed everywhere. Sri Lanka gained an upper hand only after Muralitharan broke away from the Tamil Tigers in 2004. It’s an invitation for success.

The second is their organisational structure, which in all Maoist movements worldwide is a steep pyramid. Where ever they have been defeated – from the Shining Path Guerrillas in Peru, to the Communist rebels in Malaya to the National Liberation Army of Bolivia (after Che Guevara’s death) – targeted liquidation (killing / capture / surrender) of the top few has played an important part. Even in India the overall decline in incidents (despite an increase in ferocity in some) has been a result of neutralization of a large number of leaders and cadres. Similarly, bomb making is a specialized task, which can only be carried out by a few highly trained individual, targeting them can make a major dent in their military capability. The question is have we even been able to identify them?

Thirdly, finance – the essential spirit which fuels all insurgencies. Ajit Kumar Singh and Sachin Banisdhar in their article ‘Red Money’ in outlook have suggested the annual Naxal budget in tens of billions. Such money cannot be kept either under the mattress or in the jungle. Reports suggest that legal routes are being employed for the purpose. Intelligence needs to be built on these and the funds denied to the Naxals by either a new law or by using provisions of the existing ones.

Fourthly their logistics, especially radios and bomb making equipment.

In all encounters and all recoveries there are reports of recovery of radio sets, they obviously are being used. Monitoring of such radio traffic can provide out of the proportion results both for intelligence and for targeting. Chechan leader Djokhar Musayevich Dudaev was killed on 21 April 1996, by two laser-guided missiles when he was using a satellite phone, after his location was detected by a Russian recce aircraft, which intercepted his phone call. It virtually led to a collapse of the first Chechan war. Such targeting need not be through aircrafts and missiles only, use of Special Forces to capitalize on such specific intelligence can be extremely productive – a tactic effectively used by the US forces during the Iraq war.

Moreover, most of the bombs used are ammonium nitrate / fuel oil mixture. The former is more than 90% of the volume and easily available in the form of fertilizers. Laws to regulate and control the availability of ammonium nitrate fertilizers have been implemented by many countries. We also need to control its availability and usage. Secondly, detonators cannot be made in the jungle. They have to be manufactured in factory conditions. Naxals obtain their detonators from the mining industry. However despite losing so many personnel to IEDs and bombs there is still no effort to make the mining industry accountable for the detonators that they obtain.

There would be many more weaknesses which analysts can point out. The war against the Naxals can be won in the short to medium term. The need of the hour is an imaginative leadership for the force engaged in these operations, one which is well versed and experienced in how the operations are conducted.



Article uploaded on 13 Jun 2013

Hosted by USI http://www.usiofindia.org/Article/?pub=Strategic%20Perspective&pubno=36&ano=1721

THE DEVIL’S KEY

I saw a dream of a world at peace

Love and harmony, with its cooling breeze,

Smile and laughter and children’s gaggles

Deadly wars a thing of fables,

No one to give a call for battle

Shatter the peace with a sabre rattle,

& then I saw the devil’s key

the one blood thirsty could have been me.

I saw a dream of freedom from hunger

A stomach full for all in God’s langar,

Delicious meals, for all to savour

Free of want in the world forever,

No need to hoard, free of greed

For enough in my dream for the human creed,

& then I saw the devil’s key

the first to greed could have been me.

I saw a dream of a life of love

Blessings and petals shower from above,

A bed of lotuses in a serene lake

The world a family for everyone’s sake,

No politics to influence, no war no greed

Lest it sows a disharmonious seed,

& then I saw the devil’s key

the yearning for power could have been me.

My dreams I learnt were a fleeting thought

If change in others was all I sought

My dreams I learnt were a treasure trove

If change in self is for what I strove

My dreams I learnt were a stepping stone

Granting triumph without a guilty bone

& then I saw the devil’s key

My dreams I learnt were about improving me.

LONELY HILLS

Lonely hills trudge I, reaching for MY piece of the sky

Beautiful stars shinning bright, reminder of the success that would be mine

Horizons I see? An end to my journey

Or just additional pillars in my learning

False crests? Testing patience and trust

Or another milestone, lest we fret

Self doubt, actually the only hurdle

Muster self to jump this small puddle

Sun and rain, help ease the pain

Nature’s fury for all to gain

Lights the path to overcome hurdles

Win the race, before thee curdle

Colourful flowers on path it sprinkles

Eases fatigue and creases the crinkle

Fruits sufficient for the endeavour

But something more, for makeover

Archers aim, the parrots eye

Lonely hills trudge I, reaching for MY piece of the sky

CHANDRIKA WROTE

CATCHING FIRE

I got a dream, standing on the edge
I stopped a scream escaping the ledge
I jumped and tried to reach the sky
I fell on my face, learning to fly
For I sure have wings, only don’t know how to employ
I sure have a heart to dare life’s ploy
For I am a fish with flying dreams
I am the water capturing sunbeam
In my thoughts and In my desire
I am the one who’ll catch the fire!

__________________________________________

My Thoughts

______________________________________________

I HAD a dream, I stood on the edge

Whooped in joy as I left the ledge

Touched the stars as I reached for the sky

the wind I am, with the birds I fly

With wings in my ‘chute and joy in my heart

Victory my soul, my life’s part

Failures my ‘board, to spring me ever higher

a soldier I am, all thee know we ne’er tire

Fire is my energy

Efforts it imparts synergy

Resides in my belly, and not some dark alley

the survivor I am, storms I ride in galley

In my thoughts and actions, I know I will win

God’s hand, rudders my fin

Life my book, as I labour with my pen

a humble soul I am, striving to be a gem

CHANDRIKA KALIA WROTE


QUEST
She was sitting alone in a deserted field
Her face was cloaked and eyes concealed
I called her name, a lovely dame
She looked at me with eyes full of pain
I asked her, what made you cry,
Who made your lovely eyes run dry?
Is there something I can do?
Find something lost to you?
She glanced at me and said
I am just miserable cause I have a grudge
Life has always been a lonely trudge
Where is the love, which I dream?
Where is someone to hold when I scream?
And I looked at her perplexed
For the same questions have me vexed
Is it always that you live alone?
Or you find someone of your own
For I am still searching the meaning of my life
How will I ever overcome this strife?
Will time be the best healer?
Or will it be the biggest stealer
So let these questions be forsaken
For the quest of life never be mistaken!


I WROTE


FOR QUEST
Sitting alone on a deserted floor
What you saw was not a tortured soul
Life is but just a mirror
Time nothing but a seer

What you saw was a saint
Teaching you, that life, is not quaint

For all your actions cause reactions
And so is true for all inactions
All cause wheels of time to revolve
Giving us a chance to evolve

What you saw were prayers
Asking you to shed your airs

For life’s a leveller
Investments it returns to all the travellers
So invest your efforts with empathy
And stop looking for sympathy

What you saw was an attitude
Need to fill you with fortitude

For life should spell action
Be prepared, but not afraid of reaction
Guide your daily deeds with love
And see it returned by some

What you saw was not a Quest
A mirage of life’s smirk as a jest

For quest is a mission
Positive action, soul for successful culmination
Sitting, alone, with a grudge
Would make your life a lonely trudge

What saw you were dark clouds
Silver lining was missed, though aloud

For a grudge implies you once had friends
all you need is to make some amends
Dreams imply that you once had hope
action required to achieve their scope

What you saw as a lovely dame
Was God’s angel with an aim

For life’s meaning they came to teach
Action and Empathy the message they preach
Improve your own faults to win all tests
All said and done for you are the best.

CHANDRIKA KALIA WROTE

I saw a man with a laggard pace

Curly hair and a haggard face

He had tired eyes and stooped back

But his hand still working with a complete knack

Guess he had a duty and a creed

He had a lucky few to feed

He found his joy in his pain

He didn’t let the tears go in vain

He told me,

Life ain’t easy is what he believed

For he always smiled and never grieved

So I too replied with a smile

“I believe in your hopes and your beguile

The journey of your life will be worthwhile

Just live your dreams and follow your heart

For you have won a battle very well fought!!”

MY REPLY

A battle well fought

is an award always sought

For appreciating rewards are few

under god’s creative hew

Our senses & abilities

that we call capabilities

A gift from the almighty God

arms us, to fight our difficult odds

Life is a gift, for that’s what we know

thanks for that, are daily seeds that we ought sow

Family our treasure

which makes every difficulty a pleasure

Not a duty to a creed

but a joy to water the seed

Laggard pace, haggard face and wrinkled lines

nothing but a reminder of the lovely smiles

So lets bow our head in thanks

and drop the sad sounding pranks

Soar with your dreams

and don’t worry about the screams

For God’s safety net

friends and family, are always there for everyone’s pet