Daily Excelsior... Editorial

EDITORIAL

Kalyan's fall from grace

By Fazal Mehmood
Not many are likely to sympa thise with Mr. Kalyan Singh, the former chief minister of Uttar ...more

Wests double-speak on secessionists and terrorists

By Aditya Nath Dar
On the eve of the 21st century, it has become abundantly clear that secessionism and terrorism have assumed a ..more

Senior citizens:
Ignored by Government

By Sain Dass Sumbria
The current year beginning from January, 1999, the last of this "Millennium" has been observed "year of older persons" by all the Nations. This was in consonance with the decision taken by the United National....more

EDITORIAL

SURRENDER

Surrender of hard-core militants numbering 17 belonging to dreaded Pak terrorist outfits augurs well for return of normalcy in the militancy-infested region of Doda. Although outfits to which they belonged namely Lashkar-e-Toiba, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Jehad-Islami are Pak-based and under the direct control of mercenaries operating in J&K, surrenderees have shown extraordinary courage in severing their links with them and deciding to resume life in the national mainstream. They have been in these outfits since 1996 and the bad experience or working under foreign terrorists must have caused change in their mind-set. Playing second fiddles to others and dancing to their tunes must have been quite humiliating treat for those hailing from the state who willy-nilly strayed into militancy. They have realised the futility of using guns against their own fraternity at times besides blood-spillage of the innocent. Much more than that they had been leading life quite removed from the closeness of their kith and kins and their continuation in terrorist ranks obviously caused acute embarrassment to their parents. The change could as well be attributed to the good work done by administration, police and Rashtriya Rifles in winning the hearts of their families as also sons-of-the soil who were misled and lured into insurgency.

Surrender of 17 dreaded militants clearly indicate that mercenaries belonging to Pak-based outfits do not enjoy local support which is fast depleting. It also proves the security forces have successfully neutralised most of the dreaded militants with sustained offensive smashing many hideouts in the process. It is to be recorded that insurgency related incidents in Doda region have shown steep fall. It is possible that routes of infiltration are now well secured and surrenderees felt that the game is as good as lost. Whatever the factors that motivated them to lay down arms and surrender, it is definitely a severe blow to mercenary outfits. It is certain that sans local militants support they are almost disabled. Not that only 17 locals are with these outfits. There could be hundreds more. But then the initiative taken by the surrenderees and the manner in which they have been embraced by civil and military authorities could become catalyst for others to follow suit. If that happens, it could be the most wonderful thing of the decade long insurgency. It may be recalled that this is not the first time surrender has taken place. In fact, this process had started during gubernatorial spell and gained momentum in the initial stages of popular rule. Not only full rehabilitation schemes were put in operation for them but each weapon thus surrendered also fetched a good reward varying from rupee one to rupees ten thousand depending upon the type of weapons. The first lot of surrenderees to what was subsequently referred to as 'renegades' but in military terminology termed counter-insurgents or pro-India militants. They did a commendable job in neutralising the then dominant pro-Pak militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen fully clearing south and north Kashmir of menace of insurgency. Their yeomen services facilitated exposing the State to Lok Sabha election and subsequently assembly elections in Sept/Oct 1996. Many of such faithfuls who fought the pro-Pak militants boldy and neutralised them in many places have been duly rewarded by the Indian Army by granting them monthly honorarium depending upon the rank of such pro-India militants.

This message of treating them well has been conveyed emphatically and without any ambiguity by Delta Force Commander Major General Barar who has asked other local militants to join the mainstream for their good, good of the families and overall prosperity of the state. He draws a clear distinction of referring to local militants as sons of the soil who would always be treated with compassion and due consideration. He makes it a point that mercenaries will be dealt with ruthlessly as they have no business to be here in this state. They will be chased until last of them has been eliminated. The manner in which 17 surrenderees have been welcome publicly by civil and army would definitely attract more local militants to give up guns and resume life in the mainstream. At this stage there is a word of caution for the authorities. They must ensure safety and security of the 17 surrendered militants and their families because from now onwards they would be prime targets of pro-Pak dreaded terrorist organisations. Then and then only more surrenders could take place.

BUS STAND BLAST

As anticipated winter capital is also hit by the insurgents. The fact that it has happened in their most favourite place i.e. bus stand puts many posers on the security managers. Bus stand has been the most sought after target of militants during the decade. This time however loss of life is minimum. But the reaction of those present in the vicinity has been quite vociferous and aggressive. This point cannot be ignored in that such violent protest shows peoples mind of instant reaction to any militancy related incident. If such is the reaction when only one innocent person is killed what it would be like if more casualities occur should be cause of concern to those assigned the task of winter capital's security. For one thing seat of power is in Jammu and to hog maximum limelight pro-Pak terrorists are under instructions to hit all vulnerable targets. That terrorists have reached in and round Jammu is now duly established first by the killing of cops in Vijaypur and now by the blast in bus. It will be bad to take these two incidents as isolated. In fact, it should be construed as open warning that more blasts are around unless security bosses become pro-active. They have clear advantage in Jammu in that by and large people are with the security forces and they are ever willing to extend any support needed for flushing out the disruptionists and subversives from city of temple and its periphery. It is to be presumed that the intervening period between the earlier blasts and the current one has been fully utilised to gear up intelligence. The password ought to be pre-emptive strikes that would put the militants and their harbourers on the run. The hostile environs and open support for acceleration of insurgency in the state extended by Pak military rulers leaves no room for complacency. Let there be random checks, extensive searches besides seek-n-destroy missions. Let there be more nakas and retention of element of surprise which should always be in the hands of security managers. It also calls for intensive patrolling and extra vigil of all incoming and outgoing buses besides the matadors plying in and around the city for which citizens cooperation is also indispensable. Likewise, incoming and outgoing trains should be thoroughly sanitised besides surprise frisking of the passengers. As far as people are concerned they can be expected to fully cooperate in any intensified vigil. It is upto the administration and security bosses to respond positively so that enemy does not succeed in its designs at least in the winter capital.

Kalyan's fall from grace

By Fazal Mehmood

Not many are likely to sympa thise with Mr. Kalyan Singh, the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, over his expulsion from the primary membership of the BJP for six years. And what a fall it was! Mr. Singh almost looked indispensable as far as the BJP was concerned in UP _ electorally the most important state in the country. Many regarded his fate as synonymous with that of the party. Or was it the other way round? Now, when the parting of ways has come, the party and the leader look so distant from the other. The departure of Mr. Singh from the BJP should end a very painful phase for the party in the state. Mr. Singh is yet to make up his mind about the future course of action: Should he pursue the politics of Mandal or Mandir, should he make efforts to topple the Ram Prakash Gupta Government? His contradictory statements express his indecisiveness on both the counts. All set to promote his new outfit, Kalyan Singh is surely treading a path strewn with thorns.

His visit to Ayodhya, after stepping down from the post of chief ministership and a pledge to reconstruct the Ram Mandir contrary to the National Democratic Alliance agenda, surely did not bring him laurels from any quarter. He soon pulled out his backward card and stepped up efforts to consolidate his votebank.

Indeed, this created some flutter in the BJP circles and put the saffron leaders on the defensive. They held meetings of backward leaders to counter his steps, asserting that "the backward leaders who had been feeling neglected and disenchanted due to Kalyan Singh's presence in the party are now relieved with his exit since they will get an opportunity to project themselves". However, if party insiders are to be believed, only the Lodhs are with Kalyan Singh. The other backwards castes, including Kurmis, Yadavs, are largely divided among other political parties.

Singh's sudden announcement to be able to topple the Ram Prakash Gupta Government whenever he wanted to did alarm the party set-up. A harassed BJP got together to formulate a save-Government operation. Senior leaders like party's national general secretary K. N. Govindacharya and Union Surface Transport Minister Rajnath Singh, charted out a possible damage-control mission. The meetings of all the BJP MLAs was called, following which the party leaders declared that all was well with the state Government.

The next day, Kalyan Singh retracted by saying that he was in no hurry to topple the Government, because it would fall under its own weight, and that he had asked his supporting MLAs to remain in the BJP and wait for his signal. Apparently, the former chief minister failed to muster the requisite numbers required to topple the Government. Hardly any MLAs were to be seen at his residence during his address to his supporting workers, who came from several districts. Kalyan Singh tried to save his face by giving one-liners like, "one should wait for the mango to ripen". Perhaps he has realised that it is arithmetic and not poetry which really makes the difference on the political front.

In his fit of anger against the party's central leaders, after his removal from the hot seat, Kalyan Singh probably did not realise his folly. Making the Prime Minister his target, his aspersions on Atal Behari Vajpayee were hardly appreciated by anyone in the rank and file. In fact, partymen wondered at his mental bankruptcy when he described party leader Govindacharya as a person who was black at heart and face. Not surprising, then, that the BJP leaders Lalji Tandon and Dr. S. S. Dang questioned how Kalyan could call the kettle black.

Though Kalyan had threatened to expose the central leaders, some of his charges, mainly targeting the Prime Minister, seemed to be immature verbose. He was the one to provoke the party to expel him, but he would not be likened to either Balraj Madhok or Shanker Singh Vaghela who went into political oblivion after leaving the party. "I am very different from both of them. Unlike Vaghela, I have the support of the masses," he said, adding that he was pained over his humiliation in the party despite his 45-year-old association and his sacrifice and dedication.

The fact that Kalyan had veritably become the thorn in BJP's flesh was evident when he refused the rehabilitation package offered by the party's central leadership. Even the Prime Minister had admitted that the former chief minister had turned down the offer of joining the Union ministry as a result of which the state BJP Chief Rajnath Singh was later accommodated. The slanging match between Atal Behari Vajpayee and Kalyan Singh has brought a bitter taste in the party's cadre and leadership.

Kalyan Singh has denied having received any feelers from other political parties, but his clandestine pact with the Samajwadi Party cannot be ruled out at a later stage. His indication that he had reached a point of no-return clearly expressed his desire to go ahead with his plans of forming a party and later taking support from the Samajwadi Party. Kalyan Singh's silence on Swami Sachidanand Sakshi's support to him only went in to confirm all doubts.

In fact, the presence of Jagjivan, Mulayam's trusted lieutenant at Kalyan Singh's residence became a cause of curiosity because all wanted to know what was cooking. Though the feeble explanation given was that Jagjivan had come to hand over the invitation for wedding reception of Mulayam Singh Yadav's son on December 5, it was hardly convincing. The lurking suspicion of the secret pact between Kalyan-Mulayam seemed to overrule all other explanations. The Samajwadi Party was also not very clear on the issue. All that it said was that the party had nothing to do with Kalyan Singh at the moment. Obviously, the Congress was more concerned of the future of the two. UPCC chief Salman Khursheed asked the Samajwadi Party to be more explicit in its statements.

The belligerent former chief minister may or may not have the support of his party MLAs as on date. But all seems to be fair in love and politics. He almost admitted the fact when he said, "I may not have the support of even five MLAs. But can anyone deny that I myself am an MLA." On the countrary, it is felt that his new party based on Hindutva agenda may divide the backward votes, if not wean away a chunk of it. But much would depend on the response that his party gets from the other political parties. Else, it would simply co-exist as just another outfit without even causing a flutter.

Now with the state BJP unit cleansed of the Kalyan ills, people are wondering whether all will remain well with the party, post-Kalyan Singh. Once again, the priority before the BJP is to save the state Government, which is perennially facing the threat of being brought down _ first it was Mayawati, then Jagdambika Pal and now none else than Kalyan himself.

In the whole issue, the most intriguing point is whether Kalyan Singh would actually be able to establish himself as a leader of the backwards. Central party leaders had to resort to hurried dinner politics to ensure that none of the saffron MLAs or its allies were tempted away. And mercifully for them, the flock seems to be together for the moment and Kalyan Singh remains isolated, much though he may deny the fact. Nevertheless, the party had better beware of the next moves by Kalyan Singh, when he would naturally strike to avenge his humiliation. INAV

Wests double-speak on secessionists and terrorists

By Aditya Nath Dar

On the eve of the 21st century, it has become abundantly clear that secessionism and terrorism have assumed a dangerous proportion globally. In the beginning of the next century, this ominous development will be the biggest challenge to the international community. Though terrorism did manifest itself in various forms in the 20th century, the nature and content of both secessionism and terrorism have undergone a basic change.

In a period of globalisation of economy and polity and when concept of one world based on equality and social justice has begun to emerge, secessionism and terrorism have raised their ugly head to reverse this process. Western scholars and the political elite look at this problem merely in terms of Muslim fundamentalism. It will be incorrect to trace this trend only to Muslim fundamentalism as it has different variants, Islamic, Zionist, Hindutva and ethnic. The rise of secessionism and terrorism particularly in multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic societies has deeper roots.

At the moment there are three hot spots of secessionism and terrorism, namely India, Yugoslavia and the Russian Republic. As far as India is concerned, cross-border terrorism organised by Pakistan, particularly by the ISI, has been going on for nearly two decades in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and the North-East region. There is a clear evidence that this threat to India's stability and integrity has assumed a new dimension, particularly after the military coup in Pakistan.

In the initial stages, the ruling elite of the developed nations took a position of equidistance between India and Pakistan. However, in the recent period there has been a shift in their stand. Nevertheless, the harsh reality is that the developed nations are hesitant to declare Pakistan and Afghanistan, the two main springboards of organised terrorism, as terrorist States.

The stand of the developed nations and the half-hearted measures and verbal denunciation will not help the international community in identifying and curbing terrorism. This double talk is not confined only to cross-border terrorism being organised in India by Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is reflected in the policies of the developed nations on the events in the Balkans and the Russian Republic.

In a grim and icy-cold corner of northern Kosovo is the site of what was suspected to be the country's largest mass grave. However, four months later, the International War Crimes Tribunal (IWCT) at the Hague had to admit that its investigation of the site has turned up with no evidence of bodies or of any wrongdoing by the Serbs. This shows how the ethnic conflict in Kosovo was blown out of proportion to pave the way for an intervention of NATO.

Back in June, 1999 in the full heat of a Balkan summer, some NATO officials and local residents said the deep shafts and the hydrochloric acid tanks of the Trepca mining complex where gold, silver, lead and zinc are extracted, were used as a disposal site to hide the bodies of ethnic Albanians killed by Serbian forces, But this claim has turned out to be a half-truth. It was alleged that as many as 1,000 bodies a day had been incinerated in the mine in two months. "There are Kosovan witnesses and still photos of these trucks", an anonymous US officials was quoted as saying in a Kosovo Albanian daily.

The idea that the Serbs were using Trepca to hide the evidence of mass killings quickly caught on in western newspapers. Another report, in The New York Times, said residents on the edge of he mine reported an unusual pungent bitter-sweet smell which they assumed to be of burning bodies. However, subsequent evidence proves that this was far from reality.

Trepca is near the town of Kosovska Mitrovica, in the sector of Kosovo, assigned to the French forces. It was one of the first places to be searched by NATO peace-keeping troops after the war's end. And the French troops who entered the mines were certainly suspicious of Serb activities. They informed the Hague tribunal (IWCT) that they had uncovered piles of Albanians clothing, shoes, family photographs and identity documents when they searched the area and mine shafts. The French also found that the vats had been cleaned before the Serb troops stationed in the complex had left, suggesting they had destroyed the evidence of their crimes.

Trepca was clearly earmarked to be one of the keys to documenting mass killings of ethnic Albanians by Serbs in Kosovo, and the mine was immediately made a priority investigation site for the IWCT's forensic scientists, who began arriving in Kosovo in droves in June on the heels of the NATO victory. Their mission was to conduct a war crimes investigation unprecedented in military history. The finding by the tribunal that there are no bodies at Trepca and the fact that another infamous mass grave site at Ljubenic, which was widely publicised as containing 350 bodies and which turned out to hold only five, are now being presented as evidence that the number of civilians ethnic Albanians killed by the Serbs is much lower than what NATO had originally claimed.

One analysis that looked at reports from the FBI and other police agencies sent to Kosovo to exhume bodies suggests that the final death toll might be in the hundreds of thousands. While the estimate of a Spanish forensic surgeon, after investigating war crimes in Kosovo, is that as few as 2.500 civilians were killed. The surgeon had been sent to head a large inquiry team attached to the IWCT, consisting of pathologists and police specialists, to work in the north of the country. But he found that what was publicised as a search for mass graves was war propaganda, because they did not find one mass grave.

The team had material for 2,000 autopsies and had expected to be in Kosovo for two and a half months. But in mid-September, after digging up 97 bodies in a cemetery, which showed no signs of multilation or torture, but rather death from shrapnel or bullets, the disillusioned surgeon decided to go home. These cold facts have raised a controversy in the US.

Moscow's military operation against secessionist forces in Chechnya has raised a new controversy in the West. Russian political leadership has accused the US of trying to undermine the integrity of the country. It feels that by indirectly giving moral support to the secessionist forces, attempts are being made to oust Russia from the Caucasus. Addressing a meeting on November 12, 1999, Defence Minister Marshal Igor Sergeyev said that the US and NATO were seeking to weaken Russia's international positions and oust it from strategically important regions, above all, the Caspian, Trans-Caucasus and Central Asia.

Kremlin has bluntly underlined that by supporting morally the secessionist forces, Washington is striving to establish its full control over the region. This US policy is being linked by Moscow to the new concept which empowers NATO to conduct combat operations throughout the world without UN sanction.

This endangers the sovereignty, inviolability of frontiers and national interests of other States. The moral is that the double talks about the secessionist and terrorist forces by the West conceals more than what it reveals. The Indian political leadership should draw appropriate lessons from this. INAV