Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

There is a colorful phrase for the splashes that the petrol-pump allotment has made over the past few days: the shit hitting the fan. The shit has really hit the fan, ceiling and all, and is raining down on the nation in a most befouling way. There really was no way but to 'cancel' the allotment wholesale as the PM finally did the other day. The BJP may claim that the cancellation is 'historical' but the bander bantt is no less historical. It shows how pervasive, how accepted, how commonplace favoritism is. It shows how the rules and laws serve to aid and abet underhand practices. It shows how immoral all the Governments, all the people in positions of power, can get. It shows how little one can trust the 'proper' and 'procedural' things the Governments here about do. The faith of the people, in their Governments in ther dharma and discretion, which had been subtley eroded over the past decades has received one hard blow. If it is not shattered ....more

Suicide terrorism:
The ultimate weapon?

By Vishal Sharma
The suicide bombing attacks on the USA added the bloodiest chapter to the ever-widening phenomenon of the suicide terrorism which seems to resurrect ....more

Is security grid in
J&K strong?

By B L Kak
Warning: Infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir can’t befully controlled until the Government ensures effective border management in the State. This .......more

Fair elections
needed for peace

By Anand Kumar
The announcement of Assembly elections in the State of Jammu and Kashmir has again brought the issue of Kashmir on the centerstage of .more

EDITORIAL

The pump business

When Tehelka came the straight points that the investigation had made- that there was corruption all around, there was underhand means in employ and there were men steeped in the foul deed- were sought to be drowned in the beating around the ethical bush: more than accounting there was talk of 'ethics' and 'means' and 'funds'. Though the people understood and saw what it meant to tell and show, Tehelka was practically trapped. It is still dragging on, but in a submerged State, in commissions and investigations. But something of the impact remained and when The Indian Express expose came it was accepted without any qualm, prompting the Prime Minister to announce a cancellation on the third installment. Yet that is but a cold comfort. Today, the Government stands so discredited that few of its assertions would stand. It has to be clear and unambiguous in dealing with the dalliance if it wants to retain the shreds of credibility sticking to it here and there. There it is difficult to see how the Petrol Minister who presided over all this can still sit in the Government. He is guilty either of incompetence or of complicity neither of which justifies his continuance in office unless the Government wants to rub some of the crude on itself.

At the same time it must be accepted that this society has come to rut for corruption. The list of allotees contains a good section of the society's scions, cartakers, opinion makers, leaders and politicians. The 'corrupt politician' had hitherto been a distant being; now he is the next-door neighbour. He is not some remote being in an isolated corner but lives in this mohalla and that, this that and every city, brushing shoulders with all and being corrupt through and through. He is the person who sits in the TV shows talking morality, he stands in the street corner talking values, he is the person exhorting the greatness of this nation, and crusading for its resurgence. And, all the while he has been found to be using every means, contact, money at his command to make himself richer, wealthier and more influential. And there are not only 'he's' in it but a good number of 'she's' too. Men and women, sons and daughters, all are there in it shaming the whole society.

Probably, the most unfortunate part of it all is the fact that not so long ago these men and women wore their morals on their sleeves, shirts and scarves around their necks, for all to see. So far this sort of crass corruption had been associated with a particular brand of politicians. Many would remember that when these men and women first declared their assets, they had practically 'nothing' to declare. The classical case was one declaring 'a dozen goats' as all he possessed. Today petrol pumps are tops on that list. And, the rest would be characteristically unlisted. Five years ago, this band of men and women raised hell with their righteous anger over similar allocations by another minister. That time it was a 'charge'. When the same BJP refers to the matter today, it is in defense to justify their own misdeed of the same nature. It cannot wash their sins. But at the same time, it should not come through as if the earlier indiscretions were any thing justified.

Sad to say, whosoever entered the portals of the Parliament and power has come our covered in goods and goodies, petrol pumps, gas stations, Government contracts, excise licensees, kids and kin in choice slots and positions, farms and allotments, flats and plots have been the 'glory' they earned without fail. The classical case is that of the former PM better known as the Young Turk of seventies and Baba Of Bondsi of the later years. He was revealed to have garnered nearly a dozen of petrol pumps and gas agencies over the years when he was in the opposition! That is also a measure of how free the loot has been. There the BJP has only followed the 'tradition'. And by referring to it, the BJP wants to say that 'precedence' tempted or 'justified' their indiscretions while the opposition, lead by the Congress, wants to hold that corruption was born with this ministry. The inaptness of it certainly is to the credit of this Government but the 'traditions' are old. And, unacceptable, untenable, unjustified. That the earlier Governments looted the nation does that give the present rulers a right to perpetuate it. That this Government has been found out does not prove that the earlier ones were white lilies. If anything it shows that there is something seriously wrong with the politics, morals and methods of this nation and society. And, that is not to be taken as a justification of the misdeeds but a call for a thorough investigation to bring this whole loot to light. It is a call for total accounting of the plunder of this nation. And, a call for putting in proper and effective checks to prevent future robberies.

Suicide terrorism: The ultimate weapon?

By Vishal Sharma

The suicide bombing attacks on the USA added the bloodiest chapter to the ever-widening phenomenon of the suicide terrorism which seems to resurrect the conventionally down and out enemy by providing him the human body as an irrepressible weapon conditioned to destroy itself.

The phenomenon of suicide terrorism, not really quite a new one, has witnessed an unprecedented growth over the past two decades and support as a potent means of terror. The suicide attacks constitute an additional stage in the escalation of terrorist activity, with clear intention of causing the maximum number of casualties and damage, striking a devastating blow to the public morale.

Before tracing the chronology of this deadliest form of terrorism, it would be prudent to define the 'suicide attack' so as to have a correct idea of the subject we are dealing with." A suicide attack is an operational method in which the very act of the attack is dependent on the death of the perpetrator."

It can also be defined as a politically motivated violent attack perpetrated by a self-aware individual (or individuals) who actively and purposely causes his own death through blowing himself up along with his chosen target. The perpetrator's ensured death is a precondition for the success of his mission, so defines Yoram Schweitzeer of International Committee on Terrorism (ICT).

On many occasions, the perpetrator of the attack sets out with the knowledge that there is good chance of being killed in the course of an attack, but as long as there is possibility of the attack being carried out without him being forced to kill himself during the course of it, this should not be considered a "suicide attack".

Historically, it can be seen that the suicide attacks are in actuality a very old modus operandi. In ancient times two sects - the Jewish Sicairis and the Islamic Hashishiyun became notorious for such attacks. In the 18th century, suicide tactics were used on the Malabar coast of Southwestern India, in Atjeh in Nothern Sumatra and in Mindanao and Sulu in the Southern Philippines. In all of these places, Muslims carried out attacks in their fight against Western hegemony and colonial rule.

However, there is a world of difference between antique suicide tactics and contemporary suicide terrorism as the modern terrorism differs from ancient modes of warfare.

Modern suicide bombings were introduced by the Shiite terrorist organization Hizballah in 1983 in Lebanon, and it was in Lebanon that this modus operandi was refined throughout the 1980's. In all 50 such bombings were carried in Lebanon, half of which were carried out by Hizballah and Amal, and remainder by secular communist and nationalist organizations, including the Lebanese communist party, the socialist - Nasserist organization etc.

Hizballah which was a little known and a small group in Lebanon gained international notoriety with the adoption of this devastating method. It succeeded in getting the west to withdraw forces from Lebanon and served as an important propagandist instrument of both Hizballah and Iran. Suicide attacks also served the organization as a weapon of retaliation and deterrence against Israel, which has emerged as worst victim of suicide bombings in recent times.

Hizbullah served as a role model for various terrorist outfits which took to the devastating tactics with impunity and made the world all the more unsafe. One of the groups that not only followed Hizballah but exceeded in both execution and number of incidents - was the LTTE, the Tamil separatist group in Sri Lanka.

LTTE, established in 1976 is unequivocally the most brutal and effective terrorist organization ever to deploy suicide bombing tactics. It is the only organization that succeeded in assassinating two heads of State. It assassinated former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991 and Sri Lankan President Premdasa in 1993. It has generated a perpetual fear psychosis in the minds of Sri Lankan politicians who have adapted a not so open retaliatory tactics against the group.

Then there are other-world benefits like eternal life in paradise, the permission to see the face of Allah, the loving kindness of 72 virgins who will serve him in heaven and the promise of heaven for 70 of his relatives. This gives us a fairly clear idea as to the mental condition, which medically can be termed as hallucinative, of the suicide terrorist.

Most of the shahids of Hamas group were from 18 to 27 years of age, usually unmarried, high school passouts and devoted students of Islamic fundamentalist education centres and allmost all of them came from straitened families.

Thus, all these religious, nationalistic, economic, social and personal rewards serve as a fascinating pursuit for the shahid, enticing them to go to the extreme of terrorism. And to add, most of the shahids were not volunteers but were selected by a religious teachers at a mosque or Islamic education centre.

After a training session is over, the shahid is brainwashed and acts as remote controlled device who can be used in any possible way.

The phenomenon of suicide terrorism has been tried to be explained in terms of religious doctrines but this has not proved right. Secular Palestinians are adapting this method in their belief that this will make occupation unbearable for Israel. From non religious young women to the members of the semi-Marxist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine to the secular AL Aksa Martyr Brigades, groups and individuals have begun emulating the suicide of Hamas.

Anarchy is the breeding ground of the suicide bombers. The absence of Government is their primary source of power. These groups operate in shadows and they are not easy to to target unlike States as they do not have significant infrastructures and operate clandestinely. Moreover, retaliation is generally not effective against those willing to die.

They instill the feeling of helplessness in the population. They choose gullible civilian targets and strike a devastating blow to the public morale, creating fear and panic.

A state faced with suicide attacks must thwart these attacks through intelligence, operational, and protective measures. Psychological measures also play a crucial role in tackling the threat.

Intelligence is the first link in the chain of thwarting and terrorist attack, but its role in intercepting and preempting any suicide attack is of utmost significance.

Operational efforts or counter terrorist measures are difficult to deploy against suicide bombers but an be diverted towards the application of pressure on those elements involved in the overall planning and implementation of these attacks.

These include family of the suicide bomber, activists who recruit, train and guide the bomber on his mission besides Security measures or anti-terrorist measures aim at deterring the suicide bombers. The security measures are last link in the chain of thwarting terror attacks. But in the absence of sufficient intelligence or where the operational capability against the terrorists is limited, the importance of this last link in the chain becomes exceedingly high.

Suicide terrorism is definitely an expression of utmost desperation and marks the ending of covert Government opposition which graduates to unabashedly overt one. The targets are no more restricted to military or Government but innocent civilians also come under the deadly embrace.

This desperation is legitimised by ideological, national or religious rhetoric and stops at nothing less than physical elimination of the supposed 'enemy' who is often vaguely defined.

To rid the civilized society of this menace, tremendous will power, perservence and infrastructure is required.

Religious extremism, which is often a breeding ground for this macacbre approach of suicide terrorism should be actively discouraged and virtues of tolerance be inculcated in the society. Differences can be resolved in ways less horrible.

Leadership of conflict-ridden societies has a privotal role to play in ensuring that masses do not get disillusioned with the civilized ways of disptue redressal and their minds do not get venomised.

PTI Feature

Is security grid in J&K strong?

By B L Kak

Warning: Infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir can’t befully controlled until the Government ensures effective border management in the State. This warning has been sounded by the Parliamentary standing committee on Home Affairs. And the committee’s yet another warning: Grip of the Indian security forces on the militants and terrorists can’t be strengthened if the internal security grid, which got weakened in the wake of the large-scale armed intrusion from Pakistan into Kargil sector in 1999, was not restored and improved "in the quickest possible time".

As the Army and paramilitary personnel had to be suddenly and swiftly deployed along the border to repulse Pakistani attack, the security grid did get affected. The weakening of the security grid provided ample room for the terrorists and foreign mercenaries to re-establish their hold in several places not only in the Kashmir valley but also in the Doda and Udhampur districts of Jammu region. The Parliamentary standing committee’s prescription: The restoration and improvement of the security grid "in the quickest possible time" will deal a deathblow to the ever-rearing head of military in Jammu and Kashmir.

There is no denying that Pakistani intrusion into Kargil sector also led to the breaking of the counter terrorist grid for a few months. The Ministry of Home Affairs has, in fact, admitted that rushing of troops to the border during the Kargil conflict resulted in gaps that were fully exploited by the terrorist organizations, particularly in Kupwara and Baramulla districts, to push into the Indian territory battle-hardened foreign terrorists with state-of-the-art weapons and equipment. This emboldened the terrorists to embark upon bold action such as attacks on security forces.

The 44-member Parliamentary panel hasn’t ignored the fact as it unfolded itself during 2000-2001: The rise in the number of killings during the year suggested that the security forces had gained an upper hand over their adversaries. But the panel insisted that the situation did not appear to have been restored to pre-Kargil days.

And the revelation in the panel’s report, which was tabled in both Houses of Parliament on July 23 this year: Huge quantities of arms and ammunition have been dumped near the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) for the use of militants and mercenaries. This revelation, it can be safely said, is the product of inputs provided to the parliamentary standing committee by Government agencies. Recommendation made by the committee: Better border management on the LoC and the International Border in J&K will have to be ensured.

While highlighting the need for effective measures to curb exfiltration and infiltration across the LoC and the IB with Pakistan, the Parliamentary committee has also warned: Problems arising from the cross-border terrorism and proxy war cannot be overcome unless exfiltration and infiltration was effectively checked. And so long as India’s border remains porous, there cannot be a foolproof internal security system. Hence, the committee’s prescription which the Government hasn’t turned down: Relieve as many BSF battalions as possible of their internal security duties to ensure their deployment on the border. The Government has also taken note of the suggestion which favours the posting of paramilitary personnel, instead of the Army detachments, to guard the vital Srinagar-Leh highway.

Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have, once again, been officially assured that the Government "is fully committed: to eradicating terrorism and bringing back normalcy in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Government, in fact, has insisted that it has a definite Kashmir policy, which, in the given circumstances, is for (a) proactive measures against Pakistan-sponsored border terrorism, (b) accelerating economic development and redressing the "genuine" grievances of the people, and (c) initiating a dialogue with all those in Jammu and Kashmir who abjure the path of violence.

Infiltration and exfiltration are, technically speaking, the core factors sustaining cross-border terrorism and proxy war waged by Pakistan. However, keeping in view the constraints of scarcity of central paramilitary forces for counter insurgency operations in the hinterland and the spreading arc of terrorism, BSF’s involvement has been necessitated in counter insurgency along with other security forces including Army. The Home Ministry’s standpoint: In order to frustrate the objective of terrorists (that is to stretch the security forces thin so as to blunt the present thrust and momentum of counter terrorism operation), it has not been found operationally feasible after a "careful assessment" to immediately disturb the present counter-insurgency posture in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is for setting up of additional battalions of central paramilitary forces in the coming years, before allowing the good old phenomenon-that is, return of the BSF personnel to LoC and International Border, instead of their present engagement in counter insurgency duties. Second, taking the situation as it is, the Ministry of Defence wants the continuance of some Army detachments to take care of the vital highways in J&K in association with the State police and central paramilitary personnel. Third, the Government of India if for improving the multi-tiered deployment along the LoC and IB, identifying and countering the guides and harbourers who support infiltrators, ambushes on infiltration routes, near LoC and in depth areas and greater coordination between the Army and the BSF along the LoC and the International Border.

The Government, for obvious strategic reasons, has chosen to keep secret the exact number of border posts so far set up in Jammu and Kashmir by the State police and Intelligence Bureau (IB). The fact that the IB has set up border posts has been officially established. Another fact officially brought to the fore: Fidayeen have already been inducted into some militant organizations. This phenomenon has also led to the increase in the frequency of attacks by suicide squads (fidayeen).

Such a trend, one cannot deny, has a direct bearing on the morale of the forces, especially when militants are resorting to frontal attacks on the camps and convoys of security forces. A slight fluctuation in the morale of the forces helps the militants and mercenaries to gain upper hand over them. Hence, all the more reason for the Government to highlight the need for further tightening of security cover for the security forces’ camps across the troubled State.

The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Defence Ministry may differ with each other on some issues, but they seem united on one thing-that is, on why fidayeen’ offensive. In other words, with the mounting pressure by the security forces on the ISI-backed terrorist outfits, more and more attempts of suicide attacks on the camps and convoys of security forces have been resorted to by the terrorists. And with reports forecasting suicide attacks in the coming days, particularly in Jammu region, New Delhi has alerted security forces and J&K Police and asked to take appropriate counter measures.

Fair elections needed for peace

By Anand Kumar

The announcement of Assembly elections in the State of Jammu and Kashmir has again brought the issue of Kashmir on the centerstage of South-Asian politics. It has also raised a feeble hope of peace in the trouble torn State. But it seems assembly elections spread over the months of September and October would be very similar to the elections held in the state during a last decade or so. The secessionist parties have again declared that they would not be participating in the elections. That leaves only three contenders for power in the State, National Conference, Congress and the B.J.P. Though the People’s Democratic Party of Mufti Mohammad Sayed has its support base in certain areas it can not be a serious contender for power. Same goes for the BJP. In a situation like this a statewide contest is expected only between Congress and National Conference. This issue becomes important as only a party with statewide support can form the Government or at least be a leading player even if a coalition Government is formed. But Congress has always been considered an outside force with little local roots. Only serious challenge to National Conference could have come from the All Party Hurriyat conference. But as that party has decided to stay away from the polls it is likely to be strongly lopsided in favour of National Conference.

The election in the state is important for two different reasons, first for its legitimacy and then for its impact on state politics and law and order. The non-participation of APHC group will not make election less legitimate, but their participation would have definitely been better for the State politics. It could have ensured a much larger participation of the people.

In the absence of APHC participation the best option for Indian State is to make the election as free and fair as possible. It will help to create an impression that Indian government in genuinely interested in creating peace and democracy in the state. During the last few years the situation in Kashmir has perceptibly deteriorated. The large scale violence in the state has brought the attention of world community on the Kashmir issue. Now Kashmir is being referred in the same vein as Palestine issue. It has implications for Indian policy towards Kashmir.

So far India’s declared policy has been to treat Kashmir issue as an internal matter of our country. But after the end of the Cold War several principles of international politics have been changing and now the international security is seen linked with regional security. Hence if the situation continues to deteriorate and a warlike situation keeps prevailing on our border, it will become very difficult to stop the outside powers from meddling into the Kashmir problem. And this is precisely what Pakistan wants.

If the state is run by a democratically elected Government which is perceived by the international community as genuine, it will help to remove the stigma of repression of Indian state which Pakistan always tries to label on India.

Despite our severe criticism of Pakistan for its proxy war and state sponsored terrorism, we have not been able to move the international opinion sufficiently against it. Though the US has occasionally admonished Pakistan for its role in providing support to terrorism, it has steadfastly refused to brand Pakistan as a state sponsoring terrorism.

On the other hand Pakistan has benefited in a unique way by the bloodshed, by the militants. Turmoil in the state has allowed it to raise the issue on every international fora, which has not only embarrassed India but also invariably put the country on the defensive.

J&K elections are a great opportunity to give the state a democratically elected government, which is seen by the international community as genuine and has the faith of the local people. They should not be made to believe that another farce is conducted in the name of elections, which will serve no purpose.