In defence of Salwa Judum (against Naxalites)

may 28th, 2008

all the anti-national usual suspects are out to help the communist terrorists, and if common people oppose them, *they* are deemed terrorists. standard communist tactic.

salwa judum needs to be supported 100%. they are all that stands between chattisgarh and what has become of nepal: a vassal of china.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ven


In defence of Salwa Judum

26 May 2008, 0111 hrs IST,PRAKASH SINGH
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Editorial/In_defence_of_Salwa_Judum/articleshow/3071720.cms

Human right groups and the Left parties have mounted a campaign against the Salwa Judum experiment in Chhattisgarh. A three-member CPI delegation recently urged the prime minister to intervene and disband the Salwa Judum. Their contention was that it was abetting "a social strife-like situation in the state leading to the suffer-ing of innocent villagers and adivasis". Fortunately, the prime minister did not succumb to their pressure tactic.

An expert group constituted by the Planning Commission to study the problem of militancy has also surprisingly been very critical of Salwa Judum. In its report, the group has argued that the formation of tribal squads to fight the Naxalites has promoted "a fratricidal war in which tribals face the brunt of mortality and injury" and that "those tribals who are unattached to either the Naxalites or those opposing them, become victims of violence by all agencies — Naxalites, squads formed to fight them and the security forces". The group has said that apart from being undemo-cratic, it is also counter-productive and that the experiment should be jettisoned. Two members of the expert group did not subscribe to this view and recorded their note of dissent.

The background of Salwa Judum needs to be understood. The tribals, harassed as they were by the corrupt revenue, police and forest officials and exploited by traders from the plains, welcomed the Naxalites, when they first made their appearance in Bastar. However, as the Naxalites entren-ched themselves, they became arrogant and insensitive to the feelings of tribals. They interfered with the social customs and cultural practices of the tribals. This caused a strong feeling of resentment. The Naxalites did not allow the tribals to pluck tendu leaves, too, depriving them of what had been a regular source of income.

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