Read the complete article published at OpenDemocracy right here.
I have tried to incorporate everyone's point of view in the article. However, I do stick to my earlier assertion that the people of Lalgarh are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They have lost faith in the government and political parties and know it is a huge safety and economic risk to fall back on the outlawed Maoists.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Chilling documentary on Mumbai's 26/11 by Channel 4
Britain's Channel 4 produced a documentary on the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai last year. They have used CCTV footage from the Taj, the Oberoi and VT Station, interviews with civilians and police officers who witnessed the attacks, the initial police interrogation of the captured militant Ajmal Kasab and telephone conversations allegedly recorded between militants on the ground in Mumbai and their controllers in the terrorist outfit, the Lashkar-e-Toiba.
The video is a chilling reminder of the ease with which a handful of gunmen held one of the world's largest cities hostage for over 48 hours. A few interesting points to notice in the video are:
- The inability of policemen at VT Station to tackle two young, inexperienced gunmen due to a sheer lack of security organization at the railway hub and the malfunction of their own guns.
- The militants who are in charge of holding The Taj Mahal Hotel hostage are in complete awe of its interior grandeur. Their controller seems to have to constantly remind them of their mission and not be distracted by what they saw around them.
- The young gunmen seemed little informed about the course of action they were to undertake once at their various locations. One wonders how such a seemingly unsophisticated operation on the ground was so successful.
- The controllers of the LeT have absolutely no concern for their men on the ground - in this case young men who have been promised unending wealth for their families and heaven for themselves.
Channel 4 has unfortunately pulled down the video earlier available on YouTube. Wider reaction in the media regarding its absolute authenticity and the many questions regarding urban security, terrorist recruitment, etc. are still not available.
The video is a chilling reminder of the ease with which a handful of gunmen held one of the world's largest cities hostage for over 48 hours. A few interesting points to notice in the video are:
- The inability of policemen at VT Station to tackle two young, inexperienced gunmen due to a sheer lack of security organization at the railway hub and the malfunction of their own guns.
- The militants who are in charge of holding The Taj Mahal Hotel hostage are in complete awe of its interior grandeur. Their controller seems to have to constantly remind them of their mission and not be distracted by what they saw around them.
- The young gunmen seemed little informed about the course of action they were to undertake once at their various locations. One wonders how such a seemingly unsophisticated operation on the ground was so successful.
- The controllers of the LeT have absolutely no concern for their men on the ground - in this case young men who have been promised unending wealth for their families and heaven for themselves.
Channel 4 has unfortunately pulled down the video earlier available on YouTube. Wider reaction in the media regarding its absolute authenticity and the many questions regarding urban security, terrorist recruitment, etc. are still not available.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Fresh thinking: education and security reforms for India
I should have started doing this earlier. Anyhow, I have been writing for openDemocracy and from now on provide a link to the articles.
This was posted only today. It is a round-up of recommendations commentators in the Indian media have been giving the new government with regard to policies on education and national security.
This was posted only today. It is a round-up of recommendations commentators in the Indian media have been giving the new government with regard to policies on education and national security.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Lalgarh: Its citizens will suffer the most
Some initial thoughts on Maoist insurgents taking control of hamlets in West Bengal:
a) Discontent with local police and the high-handedness of CPI(M) cadres had been growing since last year in Lalgarh and the surrounding areas. Villagers have been gathering in large numbers to protest against atrocities committed by both sides. Yet, in the run up to last month's national elections, these developments were over shadowed and almost as if forgotten.
b) With the electoral losses of the CPI(M), people in these parts are emboldened to make their discontent known to all. They have been calling for better governance and gotten very little attention. Hence, their opposition to the police and political parties has allowed Naxals to come in and set up camp.
c) People in rural West Bengal have genuine grievances and no politician has sufficiently addressed them. The ruling party has used force to suppress them and opposition parties use them as fodder to advance their assaults on the current state administration. Now, that Maoists are gaining ground (and Maoists are considered a big threat to national security) all parties have backed out from coming out in support of the people's grievances.
d) The only way to bring back these territories under the rule of law is to send in police and paramilitary forces as no legitimate politician has any credibility in these districts to win the people's trust back. Such an assault will lead to the loss of innocent lives because it seems like the people are resilient. So, the Maoists will be able to continue their penetration of the area while politicians will have to use force as a means of last resort. Whoever orders security forces to enter Lalgarh now might have to give up his seat as there will be significant violence. No one has been able to come up with a practical alternative and till someone is ready to go in and take charge, we will have to sit and wait.
e) Poor governance and so many years of complacency has led to the current conflagration. The people who will suffer the most in whatever course of action is sought will be the people of Lalgarh in the West Midnapore district. They are stuck between ruling parties at the state and centre, between ruling and opposition parties in the state and between an insurgent movement and the security of the nation.
a) Discontent with local police and the high-handedness of CPI(M) cadres had been growing since last year in Lalgarh and the surrounding areas. Villagers have been gathering in large numbers to protest against atrocities committed by both sides. Yet, in the run up to last month's national elections, these developments were over shadowed and almost as if forgotten.
b) With the electoral losses of the CPI(M), people in these parts are emboldened to make their discontent known to all. They have been calling for better governance and gotten very little attention. Hence, their opposition to the police and political parties has allowed Naxals to come in and set up camp.
c) People in rural West Bengal have genuine grievances and no politician has sufficiently addressed them. The ruling party has used force to suppress them and opposition parties use them as fodder to advance their assaults on the current state administration. Now, that Maoists are gaining ground (and Maoists are considered a big threat to national security) all parties have backed out from coming out in support of the people's grievances.
d) The only way to bring back these territories under the rule of law is to send in police and paramilitary forces as no legitimate politician has any credibility in these districts to win the people's trust back. Such an assault will lead to the loss of innocent lives because it seems like the people are resilient. So, the Maoists will be able to continue their penetration of the area while politicians will have to use force as a means of last resort. Whoever orders security forces to enter Lalgarh now might have to give up his seat as there will be significant violence. No one has been able to come up with a practical alternative and till someone is ready to go in and take charge, we will have to sit and wait.
e) Poor governance and so many years of complacency has led to the current conflagration. The people who will suffer the most in whatever course of action is sought will be the people of Lalgarh in the West Midnapore district. They are stuck between ruling parties at the state and centre, between ruling and opposition parties in the state and between an insurgent movement and the security of the nation.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Pictoral essay of life in Pakistan's refugee camps
The Boston Globe published some insightful pictures of refugee camps in Pakistan. The photographers have focused on the lives of children in these camps.
They cover a wide range of activities at these camps majority of whose residents tend to be displaced women and children. From lining up each day for food, for ID cards, attending makeshift schools, playing with the multitudes of other children, receiving medical aid, the pictures are a vivid account of the multitude of services provided by refugee camps.
The United Nations estimates that approximately 3 million people have been internally displaced due to the on-going fighting in the country's north-western provinces. The humanitarian body is reaching out for help in their efforts to set up enough camps as their current resources will not last for more than a month.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Is Obama repeating historic mistakes in Pakistan?
Is America repeating a historic mistake by pumping in money to support Pakistan? Will the Pakistani army move out of the country's north-west once the current operation is thought complete and allow militants to grow in influence again?
Praveen Swami analyzes and asks America to be more creative if it really wants to remove the militant threat on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Praveen Swami analyzes and asks America to be more creative if it really wants to remove the militant threat on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Ugly Women Get Reprieve - Women's Lib Complete
"Calling one's wife ugly may soon be considered an offence under a Malaysian law that seeks to protect a woman both physically and emotionally."
So says this report from the Hindustan Times. I'm not sure how this makes much sense because a violent husband may not call his wife ugly in the first place. He may use some other choice words or just launch into the physical violence directly. I also wonder if the 'ugly' is for purely subjective views or objective ones like Susan Boyle's ugliness. Although that is superficial, skin-deep ugliness. What about someone being a really ugly person at heart, like a pedophile intestine-chewing, grave-robbing necrophile? Nope, I guess that is out of bounds too because it might hurt that woman's feelings. The same probably applies to calling a woman fat, balding or telling her she has smelly breath.
I'm guessing the counterpart to this law, you cannot insult a man's penis due to the permanent emotional scarring, should be out soon. Can't let women have all the power in the world now, can we?
Manchester United vs. Barcelona - The Best Team Won
Manchester United were beaten by Barcelona on Wednesday night in the Champions League final. After the first 8-9 minutes of domination from United, the Barcelona that has played scintillating football all year long showed up and won the game in style. There are a few conclusions to draw from the game:
1) This Barcelona team is the greatest team to have played football together over a full season. There might be greater teams over one single game (think Brazil 1970 but this Barca team probably has that covered too) but none over a season. I tip my hat to the best attacking team and indeed best team in the world.
2) There is no shame to lose while trying to play your own football. United tried that for much of the game and I took pride in that regardless of it being a bastardized version of Barca's play and failing to result in any goals. I took no pride in the lashing out by Vidic and Ronaldo towards the end. If things weren't bad enough already, this didn't make things better, it just drove home the feelings of loss and anger.
3) Pique should not have been sold. It is a big mistake and United will regret it even more if Ferdinand's injury troubles persist. He is past 30 and will play fewer games every season on now. Pique was the rock that Barca's defense was built around and if one watches the game again, count how many times the commentator says, "Pique clears". He has learned his art at United and gone to practice it elsewhere. A very poor piece of business.
4) United's defense as well as the midfield will have to spend a lot of time this pre-season on organization. It has been sorely lacking since March of this year and resulted in the best defence in Europe becoming one of the leakiest. Ferdinand's return hasn't changed things that much so the issue lies in drilling it in. The two goals came from poor closing down by Carrick and Anderson for the first apart from Vidic's mistake and O'Shea not covering the shortest man on the pitch (if not the stadium).
5) Where is Hargreaves?
6) Messi is without doubt the greatest player in the world. Iniesta is the greatest player at Barcelona. The two showed Ronaldo how the game is played. While the erstwhile World Player of the Year threw hissy fits, Iniesta and Messi dribbled through rash tackles and got up every time without an issue. Most importantly they pass the ball. Ronaldo doesn't. To top it all, he attempts to deflect blame from his own performance by blaming Ferguson for tactics. Fuck off Ronaldo to Madrid.
I was strangely disconnected after the game but the loss has sunk in. It is painful and I don't think I'll be able to read any football news till August. Sucks.
1) This Barcelona team is the greatest team to have played football together over a full season. There might be greater teams over one single game (think Brazil 1970 but this Barca team probably has that covered too) but none over a season. I tip my hat to the best attacking team and indeed best team in the world.
2) There is no shame to lose while trying to play your own football. United tried that for much of the game and I took pride in that regardless of it being a bastardized version of Barca's play and failing to result in any goals. I took no pride in the lashing out by Vidic and Ronaldo towards the end. If things weren't bad enough already, this didn't make things better, it just drove home the feelings of loss and anger.
3) Pique should not have been sold. It is a big mistake and United will regret it even more if Ferdinand's injury troubles persist. He is past 30 and will play fewer games every season on now. Pique was the rock that Barca's defense was built around and if one watches the game again, count how many times the commentator says, "Pique clears". He has learned his art at United and gone to practice it elsewhere. A very poor piece of business.
4) United's defense as well as the midfield will have to spend a lot of time this pre-season on organization. It has been sorely lacking since March of this year and resulted in the best defence in Europe becoming one of the leakiest. Ferdinand's return hasn't changed things that much so the issue lies in drilling it in. The two goals came from poor closing down by Carrick and Anderson for the first apart from Vidic's mistake and O'Shea not covering the shortest man on the pitch (if not the stadium).
5) Where is Hargreaves?
6) Messi is without doubt the greatest player in the world. Iniesta is the greatest player at Barcelona. The two showed Ronaldo how the game is played. While the erstwhile World Player of the Year threw hissy fits, Iniesta and Messi dribbled through rash tackles and got up every time without an issue. Most importantly they pass the ball. Ronaldo doesn't. To top it all, he attempts to deflect blame from his own performance by blaming Ferguson for tactics. Fuck off Ronaldo to Madrid.
I was strangely disconnected after the game but the loss has sunk in. It is painful and I don't think I'll be able to read any football news till August. Sucks.
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