On April 22, Maoists in Chhattisgarh kidnapped the District Collector of Sukhna, Alex Menon an Indian Administrative Services Officer and the senior most bureaucrat in the area.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/maoists-abduct-ias-officer-205806755.html
This follows the recent kidnapping of 2 Italian citizens and later an MLA from Orissa. All the 3 have since been released, but only after the Orissa Government gave into multiple demands including release of dozens of Maoists in jail either sentenced or awaiting trials.
There are several Television debates on the subject of Maoists and their demands. There are several intellectuals who are in support of the Maoist cause and in agreement with their demands. The logic being given mainly revolves around the injustice meted to them over the years, illegal takeover of their lands, mining rights given to MNC’s, lack of development and lack of representation in decision making that affects them.
Whilst all of the above sounds reasonable, the question that is not being asked is, “Does this give the right to kidnap ?”, “and Murder”. The Maoists have killed 100’s of policemen as part of the guerrilla war that they are raging. As an example during the kidnapping of Alex Menon, his two bodyguards were shot dead in cold blood. The Maoists sympathizers further insist that the Indian Government should not go on the offensive and should not involve the Armed Forces as it’s an internal disturbance and not an external aggression.
I have two simple points to be made. All terrorists, including those targeting India and the US, all have political goals and believe that injustice has been done to them and are attempting to get justice for their people. How are the Maoists different. The nobility of the cause is irrelevant. If the methods used are those of terrorism, the response has to be similar. There should be a Zero Tolerance and Zero Negotiation Policy. Yes, a few innocent lives will be lost. But the fact of the matter remains that by negotiating, 100’s more innocent lives are being lost.
The second is that either the Maoists and their sympathizers believe in the Indian Constitution and Judicial System or they do not. If they do not, they are no longer part of an internal issue, but separatists who need to be dealt with accordingly. And if they are part of the India system, then they can and should try and get the wrongs corrected by a combination of engaging with the Government, the Judiciary and the Executive.
The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Raman Singh has called for a Indian Federal Policy on dealing with separatists and kidnappings. Hopefully the Center will respond with a tough and pragmatic policy that is fair but not weak. And gives justice to all. Including the most important policemen who are the innocent sacrificial lambs in this war.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/maoists-abduct-ias-officer-205806755.html
There are several Television debates on the subject of Maoists and their demands. There are several intellectuals who are in support of the Maoist cause and in agreement with their demands. The logic being given mainly revolves around the injustice meted to them over the years, illegal takeover of their lands, mining rights given to MNC’s, lack of development and lack of representation in decision making that affects them.
Whilst all of the above sounds reasonable, the question that is not being asked is, “Does this give the right to kidnap ?”, “and Murder”. The Maoists have killed 100’s of policemen as part of the guerrilla war that they are raging. As an example during the kidnapping of Alex Menon, his two bodyguards were shot dead in cold blood. The Maoists sympathizers further insist that the Indian Government should not go on the offensive and should not involve the Armed Forces as it’s an internal disturbance and not an external aggression.
The second is that either the Maoists and their sympathizers believe in the Indian Constitution and Judicial System or they do not. If they do not, they are no longer part of an internal issue, but separatists who need to be dealt with accordingly. And if they are part of the India system, then they can and should try and get the wrongs corrected by a combination of engaging with the Government, the Judiciary and the Executive.
The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Raman Singh has called for a Indian Federal Policy on dealing with separatists and kidnappings. Hopefully the Center will respond with a tough and pragmatic policy that is fair but not weak. And gives justice to all. Including the most important policemen who are the innocent sacrificial lambs in this war.
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