Sunset
at Boraibari
By Dr
Surinder Singh
A book
titled 'Sunset at Mhow' describes the
story of apathetic
treatment meted out by a commanding
officer to a sergeant under trial at Mhow
in early years of the last Century. The
sergeant and his wife died one after the
other and their graves can still be seen
in the cemetry at Mhow. The issue of his
death shocked the House of Commons in UK
which indulged in an endless debate for
days. The single death of a white soldier
raised a storm in the British Empire
which led to far-reaching changes in the
field of man-management in British Army.
Will the killing of 16 BSF soldiers in
the unheralded killing field of Boraibari
shock the Indian Government to some fit
of introspection? Will it lead to shaping
up of a better format for border
management in next say 10 years ?
Now that
the dust and din raised by the tragic
incident of Boraibari on Indo-Bangladesh
border has settled, some cooler
reflections are definitely warranted.
There is no doubt that Bangladesh Rifles
and the border population of Bangladesh
acted in the most barbaric manner towards
the trapped 16 BSF personnel who were
murdered in cold blood. However, the
bottom line on this is that we allowed it
to happen.
Enlightened
readers and lay people engaged in the
hardscrabble of daily economic life may
face difficulty in assessing the fall-out
of this killing spree of border guards
and civilians of a country that does not
merit much consideration in the security
conspectus of India. But something has
definitely flown in the face of BSF. Some
faultlines need to be indicated.
Firstly,
the country gives an impression of being
scared of using force and violence
against adversaries under the painful
apprehension of the escalatory nature of
border conflicts. If we ever take
pro-active actions or go on the
offensive, we invariably go apologetic
for it. As a nation, we have overvalued
'peace' and probably have carried our
classical philosophy too far into the
arena of conflict management.
Secondly,
incidents of Boraibari nature do reflect
blunderous lapses at micro-level of
border management or disastrous missteps
in planning at the macro-level. True
position in terms of details of acts of
omission and commission may never be
finally available to the common people.
In several cases, people lose interest as
other events overwhelm them as did the
Magam incident in J&K involving a
senior officer of BSF. Here what is
intended to be conveyed is that the
mistakes of operative level leaders get
lot of media coverage but the direct or
indirect contribution of directive level
leadership is generally ignored. Their
faulty planning process and operational
ambivalence are left to the merciful care
of historical judgment. Only a few
writeups in newspapers hinted at the rot
at the top amidst media onslaught against
Bangladesh. Finally, it is the young, the
junior and the dead who are blamed.
Thirdly,
the Boraibari incident has brought to the
fore the inadequacies of our border
management initiatives and policies. The
present framework in the form of BSF was
created in the wake of 1965 Indo-Pak War
preceded by some serious border
skirmishes in Rann of Kutch (Gujarat).
This arrangement divested the border
states of any responsibility of the
border management. There was no review of
this framework, its operational dynamics,
effectiveness and growth orientation. In
year 2000, Ministry of Home Affairs did
constitute a Study Team (the author was
the senior member) to assess the
operational effectiveness of its forces
employed for border guarding and internal
security tasks.
The
incident of Boraibari clearly shows the
perils in management of border security
when the local State Government is not
involved in day to day monitoring and
control of border incidents. Management
of border security on India's land
borders has become too complicated a
matter to be left to the care of BSF
alone. In fact, border security is no
more to be based on the triad of
manpower, weapons and vigilance alone.
More subtle operational inputs like
ideas, attitudes, postures and policy
enunciations are needed. It has emerged
as a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary
work involving several developmental
activities. Creation of Bangladesh with
its teeming millions has added new
dimensions to our border ambience both
strategically and geopolitically. The
changes in strategic environment on
various segments of our land borders
especially with Pakistan, China and
Bangladesh mean corresponding adjustments
in the framework of border management.
There is undoubtedly a paradigm shift on
the card.
Fourthly,
both at the governmental and
organizational level, the subject o
border management and border guarding has
suffered at the doctrinal level. No
attention has been given to this
important aspect. As doctrine formulation
is a complex problem, it can only be
undertaken by academicians, field
practitioners and policy-makers at the
directive level. Requiring debate,
introspection, investigation, thinking
and analysis, the makers have to do
break-out thinking hinged on hard
realities of jobs done or likely to be
done by the members of the BSF
professional community. The important job
for any organisation is to make out these
doctrinal patterns which indicate, at any
given time, the patterns of operations.
Doctrinal concepts articulate the
spectrum of responses and principles of
operations. For lack of it, the
commanders in the field under pressure
seek to accomplish tasks by means which
offer the most immediate results but
which have the effect of short-circuiting
established organizational chain of
responsibility and system of functioning.
The faultline is, therefore, the area of
doctrinal formulation which is still
barren and unaddressed. It needs
reiteration that experts are always
needed to evaluate the effects of
'stimulus response paradigm' with
neighbouring countries in the politico
military field.
Fifthly,
we follow a weak policy of foreclosing
our options to put our adversary in a
defensive situation. We declare to the
world that we shall not adopt certain
measures thus inviting our adversary to
employ the same against us. For over 50
years, we did not go for reprisals and
retaliatory raids across Cease Fire Line
or Line of Control in J&K allowing
Pakistan to employ infiltration tactics
to create problems for our Security
Forces. We may not have the compulsions
of survival as Israel has but allowing
the hostile country to treat us with
disdain is highly detrimental to our
security concerns. Often our forces given
the impression of being fettered by an
invisible hand from behind. No wonder our
small neighbours now show us how to
behave for security of national interests
and honour.
Lastly,
the practice of multiple and
cross-utilization of security forces on
crisis management basis has left each
force disoriented and disillussioned. BSF
and several other security forces have
been repeatedly used for internal
stabilization operations. This has
enervated them besides causing
operational inefficiency in the primary
role domain. This amounts to disruption,
though partly, of the life-line inertial
relationship of BSF with the assigned
borders. Border guarding is bound to
remain a manpower-intensive work even
after the fencing and flood-lighting of
border areas is completed. We have to
constantly monitor the standard of border
security on each 'operational segment' of
the border and ensure effective physical
security. Being a girdle arrangement, it
is as strong or weak as any link in the
girdle.
In the
last some months, BSF has been caught in
the quagmire of some questionable
missteps. This has given opportunity to
some columnists to suggest strengthening
and revamping of the organization. Some
changes are in the offing on account of
recommendations of ''Border Management
Task Force'. Probably, the Force needs a
major recalibration in the fields of
leadership, operational planning,
organizational structure and training
orientation. Till then, it may amble on
with the load of increased expectations
of a sensitive citizenry.
Here I
feel impelled to quote the words of the
founder Director General of BSF KF
Rustamji who said, ''The performance of
the BSF has not been very heavily
criticized.
It thinks
nationally and that is why it has not
made many mistakes even when the going is
bad. The real test of a Force is not when
the going is good'' (7 April 1988).
(The
author is a retired IG of BSF)
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What
has K.C. Pant learnt from J&K
leaders?
TALES OF
TRAVESTY
By: Dr
Jitendra Singh
While
immediately nothing significant seems to
have come out of the Govt of India’s
interlocutor KC Pant’s visit to
Jammu and Kashmir, the Pant visit has
atleast served to reiterate the fact that
over the years there is no substantial
change in the respective attitudes of
different political groups or individual
politicians in the State. Each one of
them is following an individual agenda
motivated by political expediency and by
thinly veiled lust for power with scant
regard for the future of Kashmir. Infact,
the name of Kashmir is a convenient ploy
to camouflage the hidden political
agenda.
The
most interesting feature of Srinagar
politics is that anybody who is out of
power begins questioning the accession of
Kashmir to India. You place him in the
seat of power and he overnight turns a
nationalist and swears that Kashmir is an
integral part of India. KC Pant should
not have been surprised to note that a
former Chief Minister of Jammu and
Kashmir told him that he did not accept
Kashmir as a part of India. It is a
different story, although, that only a
few years ago the same worthy had, in a
midnight coup, defected from the National
Conference and joined hands with the
Indian National Congress to topple the
Farooq Abdullah Government and to himself
take over as Chief Minister with no
hesitation to take oath under the
Constitution of sovereign India.
Similarly,
take the case of Hurriyat Conference.
Many of its frontline leaders have been
former Ministers and Legislators. Many of
them are still itching for power and
given a face-saving chance, they would
jump for it. But, the problem with
Hurriyat leaders is that in their
politics of Opposition during the last
one decade, they have gone a bit too far
in soliciting financial cum diplomatic
patronage from Pakistan and now the
masters in Islamabad are not prepared to
let go of them.
Equally
pathetic is the role of other players in
this game of wits. Shabeer Shah, for
example, seems attracted by the
temptation to fill the slot but his
ambition is not matched by clarity of
purpose or determination. In other words,
he is willing to strike but unwilling to
hurt. The other hilarious example is that
of Mufti Mohd Sayed who, while denouncing
the Centre’s Kashmir policy,
conveniently forgets that much of the
present Kashmir mess had piled up when he
was himself the Union Home Minister.
As far
as Jammu’s response to K.C.Pant
visit is concerned, the lesser said the
better. Most of the socalled
"prominent" citizens of Jammu
who made a beeline at the State Guest
House for an audience with Pant hardly
had any practically feasible proposal to
offer. Their sole objective of being
there was simply to be able to boast
later on that they too had met Pant. Now,
this is a characteristic Jammuite trait
which even KC Pant must have relished
because while he was in Srinagar, the
authorities had to arrange visitors for
him but in Jammu there was no dearth of
visitors because the
"prominent" citizens of Jammu
are always eagerly looking forward to the
arrival of one or the other VIP from
Srinagar or New Delhi. If only Pant had
chosen to stay on in Jammu for another
day or so, the city’s smart
activists would have also arranged a
Reception function for him.
Meanwhile,
the present Chief Minister Farooq
Abdullah and son Omar must be feeling
relieved to see that atleast for the time
being there seems no political
alternative emerging to stake a claim for
power or pose a threat to the National
Conference Government.
Be that as
it may, the common man continues to
remain indifferent whether anybody comes
or anybody goes. Because, he knows that
they are all chips of the same block bent
upon playing the Kashmir card to promote
their vested interests. The bard echoes Umapathy’s
disillusionment "Bahut Sunee Hai
Aapki Takreer Maulana, Badli Nahin Apni
Taqdeer Maulana!"
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Of
such stuff is greatness made!
By Suraj Saraf
Even after
in-depth analysis of the brain of Albert
Einstein, the in quiry into what stuff genius is
made up of has moved no further than where it
began.
Analysis of
Einstein's brain highlights some still
unthought-of factors holding out new but equally
enigmatic leads. Moreover, some other researches
on brain in recent years may also be underscored
here stressing the baffling task of correlating
between brain and genius.
Two significant
observations made by the scientists of the
McMaster University, Ontario (Canada), that
conducted research on Einstein's brain (over four
decades after his death in 1955) may be mentioned
here.
According to Ms
Sandra Witelson who led the study on Einstein's
brain, overall his brain was the same weight and
had the same measurements from front to back as
the other 35 dead men and 56 women of normal
intelligence whose brains had also been
preserved. She said that this fact confirmed the
belief of many scientists that focusing on
overall brain size as an indicator of
intelligence was not the way to go.
However, when
instead of the size of the brain, research
focused on its parietal lobes of the great
scientist's brain where generation and
manipulation of three-dimensional special images
and mathematical representation of concepts,
essential to thinking of the theory of relativity
(found by Einstein in 1905) was thought having
taken place, it was found 15% wider than other on
both sides of head. Moreover, the research
revealed that the groove in the brain that
normally runs from front to the back, did not
extend all the way in case of Einstein's brain.
The shape that
Einstein's brain had was not observed in any
other brain and was not indicated in any atlas of
the human brain, said Ms Witelson. Despite that,
she added, "it should not be seen that
anatomy is destiny.
We also know that
environment has a very important role to play in
learning and brain development. But what this is
telling us is that environment isn't the only
factor."
These findings may
point to the importance of the inferior parietal
region of the brain, she said. She, however,
added that the differences may be extraordinary
between Einstein and everybody else (regarding
brain) but there may be more subtle, even
microscopic, differences when the anatomies of
the brains of people with more pedestrian levels
of intelligence are compared with one other.
These observations
lead us to no definite conclusions though they
may now invite greater attention to the parietal
parts of the brain. Moreover, many other
scientists still did believe in correlation
between overall brain size and genius. Besides,
even her own study had again focused on the brain
size vis-a-vis intelligence.
Indeed, as pointed
out by a renowned anthropologist long back,"
Outstandingly unique about the human brain is two
things. One is its exceptional weight, around
three pounds out of 150 pounds body weight, this
uniqueness holds especially for absolute size. It
holds less for the relative size.
This absolute mass
is surpassed by only a very few giants among
living animals. However, this exceptional human
brain development is among both our near kin and
our more remote size mates. The other unique
thing about human brain is its functional ability
to symbolise and abstract and transmit." He
stresses, " It would be hard to believe that
these two unique features are not somehow
related. Not that one can infer in the absolute
from quantity to quality."
In fact, this
relation between extraordinary and singular
traits of human brain and its mass has been
widely conjectured by neuroscientists and
anthropologists but the mechanism of the relation
is still unexplained. One of the most widely held
opinion is that what is involved is an increase
in the number of possible inter-connections of
neuron cells, greater than even the number of
cells that follows the increase in mass.
Most of the
anatomical human specialisations away from the
primate stock, and then from the narrow
protoanthropoid stock, are inter-related
structurally and functionally. Particularly
inter-related are brain, jaw, hands, feet and
vision. A failure of any one of these would have
interfered with the evolutionary development of
the others: in some faces considerably, in others
vitally. Most fundamental, of course, was the
brain development, and specifically that of the
brain cortex, where the culture and speech
faculty must be localised.
Cortex also
includes parietal referred to above as being the
seat of mathematical representation of concepts
and generation and manipulation of
three-denominational spatial images and is
responsible for learning and thinking and
cultural development and, therefore, intelligence
and genius, too.
Total cortex is
quite large enveloping the hindmost cerebellum as
well as the cerebrum portion of forebrain to
which it properly belongs. The greatest
evolutionary development occurs there. The sides
and roof of the forebrain constitute pallium on
which the cerebral cortex is generally built as
higher forms develop. Most of the thickness of
cortex, in fact, is composed of an endless
network of white fibres, the interaction of which
makes possible an infirmity of combinations and
conditionings. It is the number of these that may
be assumed as index of intelligence, much more so
than the convolutions and corrugations of the
cortex surface.
Cerebral cortex is
the site of most complex nervous functions.
Through painstaking anatomical study it has been
subdivided into two hundred areas differing from
one another with respect to arrangements and
sizes of the neurons (brain cells).
We can not ascribe
to any specific are any fixed function. But it
may be that these areas integrate the continuous
inflow of sensory impulses into meaningful
concepts and ideas. These areas, moreover, enable
us to grasp abstractions and to utilise the
symbols involved in language.
Another study on
inter-relation between brain and intellectual
prodigies in various fields has indicated that
these luminaries do not have any special powers
that do not exist in everybody's brain but such
rare people do have access to a world of
'unconscious information', denied to the rest.
This extraordinary
study carried out by Allan Snyder and John
Mitchell of the Centre for the Mind at the
Australian National University in Canberra, had
underscored that rather than savants having such
special powers, these exist in everybody's brains
but only those "with a rare
abnormality" could tap them (powers).
"Creative leaps often follow long incubation
periods when we are not even aware that our
brains are working on problems. Understanding how
this works can lead to huge increase in
creativity."
But some other
studies have pointed out that people with such
exceptional achievements often suffer from autism
viz, lack of social and communication skills. PTI
Features
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The
chief of defence staff: A figurehead?
By Sharad Dixit
The post-Kargil
scenario predictably saw a number of
investigations into the whys and wherefores. Task
forces were established to examine the
operations, limitations etc. and to recommend
corrective measures necessary in respect of
various areas like Defence, Internal Security,
Border Management and the intelligence apparatus.
The recommendations were duly received and
included changes in structures, procedures and
accountability. Disdain inevitably followed the
recommendations, as equally predictably, they
were considered impracticable.
The first reason
was the resistance generated universally by
proposed change. This was compounded by the
inertia and comfort levels of an otiose
bureaucracy. Internecine turf wars within the
Defence Services didn't help any. Expedience
therefore dictated the creations of the Chief of
Defence Staff (CDS). A change it was, but few
mind getting kicked upstairs, especially when
there was a recent caution in the shape of a
hog-tied Admiral being kicked sideways. The
problem then resolved itself into one of
selecting a bottom from the three proffered. This
was overcome by spreading the largesse
sequentially.
The proposal, if
implemented correctly, is a good one and could
resolve several issues. In the anticipated
avatar, however, it bodes ill for the military
establishment. The first issue is that of the
MoD. Designed as a measure to ensure checks and
balances on an organisation way ahead of the rest
of the country at the time of Independence, it
has grown into an unwieldy parasite that
destroyes, distorts and nullifies many a
constructive initiative.
Viewed from a
macro level, it is essentially a conduit for
information and instructions between the
political and military establishments. It is
meant to translate and simplify military jargon
for political consumption and to convey the
spirit of decisions/directions accurately to the
military. The coordination, both vertical and
lateral, is supposed to extend to the Production
and Supply, R & D and Finance establishments.
It is further required to ensure effective
implementation within allocated resources.
The question is
whether these functions cannot be performed more
effectively and efficiently by men in uniform.
The answer could prove the MoD to be a redundant
organisation, expensive, labyrinthine and often
wasteful or even destructive. Certain imperatives
must supersede the welfare oriented, liberal
mindset. Defence is one of them. This is not an
area where disguised unemployment, unionism,
obstructionism or activities inimical to the
State, the military or the Government of the day
can be permitted. Appropriate revamping, manning
by staff subject to a military act (after
relevant training) and emplacement under the
command of the CDS is a prerequisite if the
damage inflicted upon the defence establishment
is to be repaired and the cadre rejuvenated.
This would also
offset, to some extent, the progressive
devaluation of the uniform from 1947 onwards,
accelerated after the Krishna Menon - Thimayya
fiasco of 1955. Its immediate fallout was the
redesignation of the 'Commander-in-Chief' as the
'Chief of Staff', a decision that could be
reversed during the present reorganisation. The
significance would be appreciated once military
culture is understood. Militaries necessarily
have to be feudal in nature. They cannot be
bourgeois or democratic. A man will give his life
for his liege, not his 'Staff Officer'.
Critically, the loyalty and commitment extends
both ways.
The concepts of
seniority, appeasement and 'fairness' in the race
for appointments and other peacetime spoils are
foreign to a good force. The services prefer
'Superior', 'Just', 'Moral' etc. There is no
equivalent of 'Appeasement' in their lexicon. The
civilian concepts are introduced by uncaring,
ignorant or corrupt Governments, as has been done
in India. They invariably undermine forces.
Recourse to civil courts inthe matters military
is a similarly a step abhorrent to servicemen.
Yet it is becoming a norm -- a trend that must be
reverse. Such problems can be obviated by
punitive legislation (and implementation) against
intrusive machinations of politicians and other
influential people. The CDS (preferably
'Commander-in-Chief, Defence Forces') deserves
our confidence and faith in his ability to run
his 'fiefdom' (minus the hereditary element) if
we are to entrust him with our safety and our
interests.
There are other,
lesser issues too. The status of the proposed
Strategic Force is one. Should it be subordinate
to the CDS? Its offensive operations must be
politically initiated, whereas defensive ones
extend to both military and civil organisations.
Its ambit of influence and the support structure
required would be enormous. Peacetime functioning
could perhaps be delegated to the suggested
concept of the C-in-C. If the CDS is to be
reduced to a figurehead however, autonomy from
the services and a direct chain of command from
the executive authority (be it the President or
the PM) is a must.
The jurisdiction
of the CDS over individual services and his
interrelationship with the R&D, Production
and supply and Finance establishments are other
issues meriting detailed analysis. The silver
lining of the proposal as it stands however lies
in the less advertised small print -- the
appointment of a Vice Chief of Defence Staff and
the functions visualised for him. His is expected
to be a tenured appointment, reinforcing our
supposition that the CDS would be a figurehead.
He is expected to work in tandem with the Chief
of a new Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA - also
to be created), be continuously aware of the
threat scenrio and to head a Defence Planning
Wing (DPW). He is additionally expected to advise
on nuclear and strategic matters and coordinate
Joint Operations.
Certain
ambiguities do exist, but could be ironed out.
The DIA for example, is an excellent idea. It
could be made into a focal point for intelligence
collation. It could be made mandatory for all
intelligence outfits to provide periodic briefs
and summaries to the DIA, with special inputs as
necessary. Errors of commission and omission
could then be identified and culpability more
easily established towards enhancing
accountability. The 'operation in tandem'
however, smacks of the persistent political
desire to divide and rule. A 'Defence' agency,
not under the CDS? An essential supportive
military input beyond the purview of the
operator, not answerable to him? A vital Decision
Making tool being denied to the executor? This
could still be rectified.
Associated with
intelligence are other areas of expertise whose
inputs are essential for the formulation of
national policies and their execution. The
Ministry of External Affairs for example, has a
vital role to play, as do the ministries of Home,
Finance and many others. They are all presently
working on instinct and perceived national
interests on an ad hoc basis, largely independent
of each other. No doctrine has been codified in
any area. This is essential if our efforts are to
be synergised. If such guidelines could be
formulated, streamlined and integrated, the pace
of progress, development and the furtherance of
our objectives could multiply. The VCDS could
then obtain coherent, holistic points of view
that could facilitate subsequent tasks of Threat
Assessment and Defence Planning. These tasks have
never received their due in India. There is no
operation (except perhaps the liberation of Goa)
where India has been proactive. Due attention
could have pre-empted many a crisis, while proper
planning and execution could have produced a
leaner, meaner force, in line with the times,
that could have neutralized many of our current
security concerns. The need for undiluted
military advice to the Government is undeniable.
The translation of national political objectives
into military ones (where necesary) is a
cornerstone, both of policy formulation and of
decision-making. Its want is reflected
internationally in many cases including Iraq and
Serbia. The gist of the foregoing is, that the
recommendations of honourable men like Advani,
Fernandes, Sinha, Jaswant Singh and Pant were
made in good faith. Distoration of piecemeal
implementation in the interests of populism could
not merely negate, but convert them into
instruments of accelerated decline. The road to
hell they say, is paved with good intentions.
Wishful thinking suggests that this would not be
true in the instant case. PTI Feature
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Computer
literacy in J&K
ACADEMIC PULSE
By Prof. S. K. Bhalla
These are the days
of Computer literacy. We are told that computers
are not just ordinary machines but are actually
the symbols of a complete human transformation.
The craze for computer education is so strong
that anyone who says that computers may have
negative consequences for childhood could be seen
as being completely out of mind. Even the so
called education parents and teachers do not
believe if one tells them that computers do not
do much good to the children.
Computers have an
addictive effect. It is quite impossible to
compare the job of unrestrained play and a foray
into the world of Nature with the taxing
experience of sitting before a computer.
"The world of childhood does shrink when
knowledge take the shape of a monitor".
In J&K too
advocates of computer education and educational
policy makers treat these computers as the sole
symbols of modernisation and a must for a big
leap forward. There are plans to equip with
computers schools having unclean toilets,
ill-equipped laboratories and poorly maintained
libraries as also unempt playgrounds. A crumbling
and leaking school structure with one
air-conditioned room where the computer is likely
to be installed will become the sole criterion of
an A-class school eduation in the coming years.
But some
resistance has already begun in certain quarters.
In the book "The Digital Diploma
Mills", the writer has nicely exposed the
dirty face of those promoting on line education
with the collaboration of Governments. Their main
motive is to control the faculty for a couple of
years and finally to do away with it. According
to the writer of the book David Noble -
"Once the faculty convert their courses to
courseware, their services are in the long run no
longer needed."
There is a common
plea these days that students prefer hitech
education. As per a national daily in two
American Universities, students have opposed
hi-tech education/instruction. Students there are
preferring face-to-face relationship. Time at
least in India is not far off when the age old
autonomy of teacher will come in conflict with
forces of commercialisation in the education
sector which is being encouraged by the
Government.
The aim of writing
all this is to think afresh whether we have
chosen the right track for our children or not.
Computer education may be encouraged judiciously
in a graded manner but it has to be seen
simultaneously that our children do not lose
their originality and become xeroxed copies. Too
much of obsession with computer will make this
generation of ours more blurred and encourage
excruciating loneliness.
The need of the
hour is first to tackle the problem of
infrastructural facilities in schools and
colleges and then become computer savvy. There is
no sign that Governments have decided to work out
priorities in education sector in a logical
manner.
Perhaps many of us
are not yet aware that we have been lowly placed
128th on the United Nations (UN) human
development index as we are lost in the highway
or bylanes of administration only.
Pirates
still rule the sea
By Amlan Home Chowdhury
The International
Maritime Bureau (IMB) has warned India,
Indonesia, Bangladesh and Ecuador that they may
fall victims to escalated operation by the
pirates within their sea-zones in immediate
future. It is an ominous prediction, indeed, and
a cause for universal alarm.
As the cases of
sea piracy touched an all time high figure of 469
last year, the Kuala Lumpur-based International
Maritime Board (IMB) has grown apprehensive that
the pirates who now have gone hi-tech and
maintains a well-knit global network of spies,
are likely to try to rule of seas in the
immediate future.
The apprehensions
of this apex maritime monitoring body seems to
hold water. Despite regular anti-piracy drills by
different countries, joint maritime exercises by
two or more countries and regular meetings held
by the piracy-affected nations across world, the
incidence of armed raids on merchant vessels,
chartered ships and oil tankers are rising.
Last year, 72
persons were killed by the pirates across the
oceans. A group of 15 buccaneers raided an oil
tanker of Malaysia carrying 2,500 tonnes of fuel
in the South China Sea and looted the entire oil.
Though the captain and the crew were mercilessly
beaten, they luckily survived.
Piracy takes place
almost in all parts of the world. However, South
East Asia is its worst victim. The region has
several piracy-prone hot spots, including
Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar
and Thailand. The world's most affected pocket is
Indonesia where 119 cases of attacks and loot in
ships took place in 2000.
While 66 cases of
sea piracy were reported in 1999 in Indonesia,
the figure stood at 31 in 1998. Thus, the curve
of sea piracy in Indonesia is moving up
alarmingly.
According to the
IMB, the ongoing political turmoil and economic
crisis of Indonesia is greatly responsible for
the sudden spurt in piracy in the water-zone of
the country. Besides, the physical shape of
Indonesia also has encouraged the buccaneers to
take the law in their hands.
There are about
13,000 islands and archipelagoes in and around
Indonesia that plunged into the vortex of a major
eco-political crisis in 1998 following the ouster
of President Suharto. The problems in those
masses of lands are still continuing.
Very often, the
pirates take shelter in these jungle-covered
islands. They are virtually using those lands as
their bases. Once in those islands, they can
neither be spotted nor attacked. The geographical
position of those islands are such that the sea
pirates just cannot be flushed out from them.
Surprisingly
enough, the anti-piracy drill by different South
East Asian nations also went up considerably
after 1997-998. Yet they failed to protect the
vessels and sea-liners from being attacked and
looted during 1999-2000. Though the Japanese
Coast Guards (JCG) regularly carries out
anti-piracy drills both singly and in association
with the other South East Asian countries.
In 2000, the JCG
held anti-piracy exercise with the Indian Coast
Guards (ICG) and Malaysia. The ICG-JCG drills
took place off the Indian coast included two
patrol vessels and an aircraft of ICG and one
patrol vessel and two aircraft of the JCG.
The purpose of
Indo-Japanese exercises was to ensure safety in
the Bay of Bengal that now has become a major
piracy-affected pocket. Incidentally, the
sophisticated trawlers and ships of Bangladeshi,
Myanmarese and Thai origin regularly come to the
Sunder Bans area of the Bay of Bengal. They also
attack the vessels of the ICG and loot the marine
wealth of India. Looting marine wealth of various
countries now included in the activity-list of
the pirates.
Last year, 15
South East Asian nations met at Kuala Lumpur to
review the grave danger that the sea pirates
posed to the plying of the ships in the South
East Asian waters and find out ways and means to
crush the active syndicates of buccaneers who now
have stepped lup their operations.
On the
international piracy map, the straits of Malacca,
Southern tip of red sea, Bay of Bengal, Indian
Ocean and South China sea are real hot spots. On
an average, atleast one piracy takes place in
every 72 hours in the world. In the sea territory
of Bangladesh, 32 cases of piracy took place last
year.
In view of the
stepped up operations by the buccaneers, the IMB
has now formed an anti-piracy division to take
stern actions against them and monitor their
activities. The IMB considers 1990 as the cut off
year as far as the international sea piracy is
concerned.
Recently, the
Malay Marine Police could bust only one
Indonesian syndicate of pirates and arrest four
of its prominent operators, seize a speed boat
and two outboard engines. The Malaya Marine
Police is hopeful that the ongoing anti-piracy
drive would compel the buccaneers to shift their
bases of operation from the Straits of Malacca to
the Singapore Straits as well as the Gelasa
Straits in the Southern-Eastern corner of Sumatra
Islands. The IMB is apprehe- nsive that the
incidence of piracy in the Bay of Bengal and
Indian Ocean may escalate in immediate future as
the syndicate of pirates now are trying to set up
bases in these two pockets.
Besides raiding
the vessels, the pirates are also engaging in a
plethora of other crimes such as trafficking in
narcotics, arms supplies to different terrorist
outfits the world over, smuggling of consmer
goods and transportation of immigrants illegally
to various countries.
The IMB has
requested all the oceanliners of South East Asia
to equip their vessels with ultra-sophisticated
instruments, lighting system and weaponry to
counter the pirates. It suggested the ships to
switch on the deck lights and mountain lookouts
while passing through piracy prone areas in South
East Asia, which had been one of the most ancient
pockets of the professional bucaneers. At least
for the last 4000 years, the pirates had been
operating here. Incidentally, piracy is one of
the most ancient professionals of the world.
Even two centuries
ago, piracy was considered as a courageous
profession in Europe. Many a buccaneers was
conferred upon with kinghthood during the
Elizabethan era. At that tim, piracy had assumed
the industry status virtually in England, the
Netherlands, France, Spain and Portugal. The
special ships were constructed and pirates
recruited openly for the ''water ventures''.
Experienced pirates were in great demand.
It was also
customary for the pirate-lords to offer ''gifts''
to the kings and queens on their return in
different European countries including England.
The Queen Elizabeth- I very often used to demand
black pearls from the pirate-lords returning from
their daring voyages from the Middle Ease, Asia
and Africa. Even today, piracy continues to be
carried out in an organised manner. The syndicate
operators who mainly have bases in the Malaccan
Straits, South China Sea, Arakan-Bangladesh
pocket. Bay of Bengal-Indian Ocean and Singapore
region, use ultra-sophisticated wireless sets,
advanced warning systems and computerised
equipment to monitor the movement of their prey.
The pirates
operating in South East Asian waters are mostly
from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, the
Philippines and China. Having Agents in major
port cities throughout the world, the of pirates
get informations of the movement of goods-laden
merchant ships well in advance and elaborately
plan out their loot as well as escape route to
hideouts.
Though the South
East Asian countries periodically hold meetings
to eradicate piracy, not much has been achieved.
Its basic reason is lack of post-meeting
cooperations among those nations. Immediately
after the meeting, the spirit of cooperation
evaporates. Its burning example is the Bay of
Bengal and Indian Ocean rim.
Over the last
10-years, the pirates had regularly been
violating the sea-jurisdiction of India. They
regularly enter into the Bay of Bengal and Indian
ocean zone to loot both the merchant ships and
marine wealth. It is also quite possible that
they are actively supplying arms to different
militant outfits like ULFA of Assam and other
militant groups of North Eastern India. The
pirate-ships very often attack the ICG-vessels.
Though India had
constantly been urging Bangladesh, Myanmar,
Thailand and the Philippines to intercept the
vessels of pirates before approaching the Bay of
Bengal and Indian Ocean, they did not initiate
any concrete efforts in the direction.
Subsequently, the syndicate of pirates have got
success in establishing their hiding places in
the Sunderban Delta and monitoring the movement
of merchant vessels from there.
PTI Feature
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