Naxalism – The Rise - Feudal states and oppression of
land workers, and farmers in pre – independence era led to the rise of Naxalism.
Even after India got its independent, Naxalism affected – West Bengal,
Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra where tribal and workers were
oppressed or ignored by government officials and big businesses.
Since 1930, the insurgent moments grew and became a major threat to democratic structure of the world.
Since 1930, the insurgent moments grew and became a major threat to democratic structure of the world.
Killing Journalists
On Oct 30, 2018, a journalist
named as Achyutananda Sahu was killed by Maoists along with Policemen. Not only
that the Maoists in Chhattisgarh area have issued the warning - that reporters
should not travel with policemen in interior regions.
The Communist Party of India (Maoists) has reportedly taken responsibility for killing journalist as well.
The Communist Party of India (Maoists) has reportedly taken responsibility for killing journalist as well.
Reports
A report released by the
Human Rights Law Network in 2018, mentioned about the cases of journalists
attacked by both Maoists and Security forces both.
India has consistently ranked
low in the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters without Borders, where India
ranked 136th among 180 countries.
According to the committee to
Protect Journalists, 48 journalists were killed in India between 1992 to
2018.
Geneva Convention
The need to protect
journalists reporting in war time is laid out in Geneva Convention 1949. It is
a set of standards for conducting warfare including the treatment of
journalists accompanying military forces.
If Journalists are engaged in
professional reporting during armed conflicts, they should be considered civilians
and they can not be targeted by military forces.
The present
The Home Ministry of India in
August 2018 claimed that the challenge of the Naxalism in the country is on its
last leg. According to the South Asian Terrorism Portal, 122 Maoists have
been killed across the country in the first six months of 2018. This is the
highest number in the last eight years. Moist violence has been slowing down in
trend.
Some development work taken
by the government- Construction of roads, mobile towers, setting of banks, post
offices, Kendriya Vidhyala etc. and most significant achievement has been in
poverty reduction.
The study published in
Brookings Blog says that by 2022 less 3 percent Indian will be poor. And that
extreme poverty could be eliminated.
Is it end of Naxalism?
No, in historical overview,
the moment has been very long. There were two occasions when government of
India thought that the Naxal moment has been end and disintegrated. “The
Operation Speechlechase from 1 July to august 15 1971 followed by the arrest
and subsequent death of Charu majumdar. The new group was formed in Andhra
Pradesh as a result and spread across other states.
Naxal violence was at peak in
1991. The moment again was hit hard. However, it rose again.
In the third phase, it
happened in Dec 2, 2000, and People’s guerilla army was set up even after Naxals
have been hit hard, the comeback. So due to these historical events, it is
understood that may be today the government holds upper hand, but these Naxals
may rise again.
What is wrong?
Since the beginning of Naxal
movement, the Naxals were treated as a mere law and order problem and standard
repetitive strategy of mounting a massive police response after each Naxal
attack.
There has been news in Media
like security forces have been burning villages and sexually assaulting
children. There has been destruction of schools, hospitals and people in
affected areas have no access to clean water etc.
The government’s strategy to
curb the violence has not been working because, Naxal hit areas remain deprived
of various services.
The few developmental
programs such as training and placement of tribal youth and skill development
centers are also not able to reduce to spread of Naxalism.
A way ahead- To being rebels to the negotiation by creating
holistic approach may help. Reintegration of them is needed in the society, and
socio economic conditions should also improve for them.
Colombia peace deal can be
used as a lesion where Colombian government negotiated a peace deal with
Revolutionary armed forced of Colombia-People’s Army, and ended almost 5 decade
old war.
- Rural Population's increased participation
in rural area can help
- Social inequality, weak administration
remains the primary reason for Naxalism.
- The discontentment among youth
has helped in Naxal Organizations to recruit.
- The lack of proper electoral
representation of the tribal and under privileged people led to Sid
enfranchisement of people with government
