The people are the creatures of habit and lovers of
comfort. Who else can hold the mirror other than the media? But media in the
northeast needs to walk the talk vis-à-vis the role of the military and
security forces.
Two Army officers who served in the east and North-east hit the headlines recently. Former Chief of Army Staff and ex-governor of Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura, General KV Krishna Rao passed away on 30 January 2016. He took part in the 1965 war against Pakistan, in Jammu and Kashmir, in 1947-48 and from 1970-72 commanded a mountain division in Nagaland and Manipur. He also fought in the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war.
On 13 January 2016, Lt- Gen (retd) JFR Jacob passed away in Delhi at the age of 92. The Kolkata-born Jacob was best known for his role as Army Chief of Staff, Eastern Command, during India's victory over Pakistan in the war of 1971.
Prior
to him, on January 13, 2016, another olive green hero Lt Gen (Retd) JFR Jacob
breathed his last at Army Research and Referral
Hospital. He was 92. Kolkata-born Jacob is best known for his role as the Chief
of Staff of the Indian Army's Eastern Command during India's victory in the Indo-Pak War of 1971 and the Liberation of Bangladesh.
I am referring to these two
military officers in this column with a purpose as recent weeks also saw wide
range of public debate on the role of Governors, powers of military and the
prospects of peace talks with the ultras in the northeast. Both the former army
officials served as Governors – and Gen Rao as Governor of Nagaland also was in
some sort of controversy when he had recommended dissolution of the state
assembly when Hokishe Sema government was reduced to minority in 1988.
But to me always more important has been the debate about the role of
the army in these insurgency-hit states. In this public discourse is certainly
always the media coverage of the army role vis-à-vis the common people of this
region.
Generals: Jacob, Krishna Rao |
This would naturally lead us to
discussions on the Armed Forces Special Power Act
(AFSPA). This law is also in debate over
a supposed confession by a Manipur police constable on fake encounters.
I am a frightfully placid nature journo. But there’s
hardly a debate that the media coverage of AFSPA and related events in the
northeast – especially by the local press - is generally followed by the spirit
of 'popular will'.
This sounds bitter but unfortunately is true. But
this happens not without good reasons. We can see such media reports more than
often because the local readership wants anti-military stories. And there's
some 'safety cushions’ as the retaliation from the state/central governments
would not be as harsh or drastic as by ultra groups.
This in no way is an attempt to
justify the numerous cases of human rights violations by the security forces. On the other hand,
study on the issue of human rights violations both in the northeast and
elsewhere including in few neighbourig countries reveal some interesting
findings.
One likes it or not, media needs to point out
clearly that the Indian military prowess or the Government of India itself has
not yet lost a serious counter insurgency campaign within the country.
Blogger: Field Duty |
Former
Indian diplomats and military officials deployed in Sri Lanka have told me that
we can perhaps safely conclude that only
unsuccessful campaign has been against the LTTE in that island country.
Now, why the
success rate against insurgency in India is so good? I am not touching at the
instances of human rights violations or unfortunate killings of a number of
innocent civilians. But the success in counter insurgency campaigns owes a lot
to government of India's "political approach" to counter insurgency.
We ought to admit that in this context, even the Indian army has generally
played second fiddle and cooperated with the civil administration and political
leadership and endorsed the numerous processes of peace talks.
Even army leadership has appreciated that the
insurgency problem -- barring the Mizoram handling in 1960s - is political by
nature and the solution lay in political landscape only. And even for Aizawl
bombing, the decision came from higher ups and not from military officials
unilaterally. But it’s the army alone who get the blame.
Now what difference does it make if media does not
mention or does not cover this aspect of military role vis-a-vis the peace
process?
Not
covering well this crucial aspect of insurgency warfare is actually depriving
the readers and not informing the common people that the peace talks have been successful
and can be successful only with the cooperation of military.
The moment the locals understand the importance of
'political talks' to resolve these insurgency problems, we can guarantee that
any insurgency outfit would be compelled to come forward for talks. This has
been the case with ULFA and also the Naga militants. This pragmatism of Mizos
was actually a great booster in leading the late rebel leader Laldenga come
forward for talks and finally end the Mizo insurgency.
The media in the region needs to introspect on its
role in highlighting or not doing so on these finer points. Such media
reportage can influence Indian army strategists deployed in the region too. So
the moot point I have tried to argue is effective and detailed coverage on
these issues can force both the military and insurgency outfits stay away from
violence and warfare and accept the reality that talks is the only answer. And
to add to it - Peace is a must for development.
Importantly, however, in all these
games the role of politicians is an important facet. Those who have followed affairs of
northeast are well aware of the ‘damaging power’ of this neta class.
All the way through every single
thing done is essentially and purely aimed to help politicians improve their
own position and harm or spoil the position of other players – including the
security forces and even the police force. I know of politicians in northeast who remain
tight-lipped when enjoying the loaves of ministerial power and open up mouths
against army and AFSPA when they are not in power.
This blogger has made a case on the
need for a rightful balance between maintenance of law and order and protecting
the civil rights of citizens. But what the politics of double standards have
turn things into a mess. You cannot administer a state or a country if one
person in the office has the power and tendency to veto and undo the good works
of military and security forces.
(ends)
This is the really amazing article
ReplyDeleteRegards
Aana
Very informative & full of anecdotes...Media suffer from New Delhi obsession & thus fail to go places
ReplyDeleteWhen a service member retires or leaves military service, there's an indelible mark of patriotism and Americanism that lives on. They become the beacon of light to those that follow them. Comabt Vehicles
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