Hi C'da,
>I am glad you corrected that slip of Kamal's Ram, by
clarifying >that the 'common people' harbor them out of sheer
terror, and >NOT because them 'terrorist' just might be their
own--sons, >nephews, friends, in-laws, lovers, what have you :-).
That is interesting. It could well be that. But no insurgent would
want their own family become targets of unruly armymen, would they.
It is more than likely, unsurgents would make sure the "action" is
not close to their immediate families. So, when they do need to make
a run for it, they make probably do so in some other village (not
their own).
This news from the AT should perk you right up (as to how close the
ULFA insurgents are to the common people - specially when the common
folks are free to express themselves and not looking down the barrel
of a gun) .
Here the brave ULFA men shot (point blank) this most dangerous
school teacher - who probably was a bigwig in this big "Indo-Assam
Conflict". Now, that is done, perhaps the ULFA can put down its arms
and join the mainstream! :)
--Ram
___________________________________
Villagers lynch ULFA cadre
From Our Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, May 24 - Irate public lynched a suspected ULFA cadre at
Pengeri and detained his comrade at Hulunggutti village under
Kakopathar PS in Tinsukia district after the militants killed the
schoolteacher of Kailashpur LP school this morning. Local villagers
gave a chase to the militants following the hue and cry of the
school students and managed to get hold of Budhe Dhadumia who was
later beaten to death by the villagers. The other cadre whose
identity has not been confirmed is said to be handed over to the
police by the villagers in Hulunggutti.
The two militants who reportedly came over to the school on foot
called for the schoolteacher when the school assembly was on. As the
schoolteacher Rohini Gogoi approached them, he was shot at from
point blank range in full view of the students, according to
reliable sources. The teacher died on the spot.
Senior police officials from Tinsukia have rushed to the spot and
investigation is on. In the meantime ULFA has denied their
involvement in the killing, stating that the two cadres did not
belong to their group and that the outfit had nothing against the
teacher.
On 5/25/07, Chan Mahanta
<<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi Ram:
Thanks for sharing Kamal's letter to the Sentinel and your thoughts
on the subject.
I know Kamal does believe in the rule of law, and am sure he too
wants the security forces to be accountable.
But he goes to great lengths in trying to explain that 'terrorism'
cannot be dealt with gingerly, as if that is what Wasbir wants to
do, deal with it 'gingerly'. If one has to draw conclusions from
Kamal's note, it would be that Kamal wants to give the 'security'
forces free-reign -- as if AFSPA is not enough. In that his
opening statement sounds like a mere perfunctory homage to the rule
of law, a 'xaliki-snan' .
I was also quite curious about :
>It is a killing field where
the Army has to fight an invisible enemy, who hides amongst the
>common masses and does not wear uniform.
*** So perhaps it is OK to go shoot first and ask questions later.
After all there are 'terrorists' out there, and soldiers are only
human, unlike them 'masses' harboring them 'terrorists'. So , let
us not make too big a deal of a few of the 'masses' getting rubbed
out, no doubt only accidentally! Right ?
> In order to overcome this disadvantage, a soldier must be
swift-reacting for which lightening reactions are summoned into
actions, whenever and wherever there is an iota of doubt. By being
fast and unpredictable, a soldier garners the ability to alarm the
>terrorist before the latter unnerves him.
*** I didn't realize that Kamal, besides being the good daktor he
is, is also a military tactician. Perhaps a specialist in
'terrorist' fighting ? In GW Bush country he has a lot to
contribute.
>Under this
>circumstance, human errors are bound to occur occasionally.
*** Of course! Only people like Wasbir tend to make mountains of
such molehills. You never can trust these bleeding heart liberal
journalists, can you?
>>The Army, in essence, is a well-oiled killing machine, who are
taught to annihilate the enemy. Its mathematics is simple:
>''anti-national'' means ''you have to eliminate''.
*** The immense power of superior logic exuding thru these
observations would be lost on the clueless like myself, had it not
been for Kamal's pointing it out ! Well-oiled killing machine! So,
occasionally it could veer out of course. Only natural--what do you
expect? Are you going to make a federal case out of it? Once the
'anti-national' label is placed on the target, it is OPEN SEASON!
My only question will be about WHO places that target, the
anti-national label? And their QUALIFICATION for that? Authority for
that?
Ooops! Forgive me. I almost forgot. They have AFSPA. Don't need any.
>Ideally, the Army
>is not a force to be unleashed in civilian space.
*** Oh the idealist Kamal! He is all heart, isn't he? Tell you what?
If it were for me, I would say ideals schmideals! It is for them
bleeding hearts. Real patriots , not to mention real men, don't
need that sappy garbage.
>>Since the terrorist almost always hides amongst the common people,
the security forces must treat everyone with suspicion and that
>keeps the soldiers on their toes.
*** Now he is talking. The gloves finally came off, didn't they? I
knew we could count on Kamal to say it like it is.
"--- terrorist almost always hides amongst the common people,"
Wait a minute here! Is Kamal suggesting that the 'common people' AID
and ABET them 'terrorists" ? Very interesting indeed. But if that
is true, how are they 'terrorists', if the common people are not
even terrified of them?
I am glad you corrected that slip of Kamal's Ram, by clarifying that
the 'common people' harbor them out of sheer terror, and NOT because
them 'terrorist' just might be their own--sons, nephews, friends,
in-laws, lovers, what have you :-).
>the security forces must treat everyone with suspicion and that
>keeps the soldiers on their toes. This may cause harassment to the
>public, but it is the price one has to pay when the security forces
>are fighting an invisible enemy.
*** Glad someone put things in perspective. These common masses
need to be told in uncertain terms that they are SUSPECT! After all
they are the ones causing trouble for the uncommon ELITEs like Kamal
and his kind, keeping soldiers in their service on their toes.
>This is precisely why we get to
read the news of innocent civilians being killed mistakenly by the
>Army.
*** Now we know!
>But then, these cases are exceptions rather than rule.
It would be worthwhile to keep in mind that the terrorists are
certainly not normal human beings who harbour sentiments such as
>compassion and love.
*** Didn't know that. Honest! Call me a fool, but I was under the
mistaken idea that 'terrorist' is just a CONVENIENT label to place
on other humans who are causing trouble for the good folks, like
placing a bulls-eye target on their backs for the well-oiled killing
machine to zero in on the kills. Didn't know they are not humans at
all. Must be another bunch of 'killing machines' but without the
grease and short on fuel.
>>The fact remains that brutes only understand brute force.
*** Of course! And if the common masses harbor them, they too ought
to be treated brutally. And since it is so hard to tell one from the
other, what do you expect?
It's all clear now . Thanks to Kamal.
c-da :-)
PS:
>I hope you are not trying to show that insurgents are innocent and
have played no part.
*** How did you guess that Ram? I was trying to slide that in
sideways. But you catch me every time .
Let me 'fess up here: I was not only trying to shield them
'terrorists', I even had a soft spot for them common masses who
harbor them as well. I am another one of those who didn't realize
that once they hob-nob with 'terrorists' their innocence go up in
smoke and they become fair game.
That, after all is the essence of desi-demokrasy!
At 9:06 PM -0500 5/24/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
C'da
Iam at a slight disadvt.-out of town and on a small keybrd. But will try.
I think kjd does make salient pts.Assigning blame to the army is very
easy.If one has to it has to be the policy makers, maybe the
commanders etc. The usual jawan is probably shipped out of Andhra or
Bihar with a very limited knowledge of the local populace. When they
get imbroiled in a fracas, innocents get killed or hurt.
Yesterday, I wrote how insurgents go hide among the villagers. The
poor people, often have little or no option but to give shelter to
insurgents, thus inviting the army.
The insurgents don't wear uniforms, look and dress like the locals
(Assam or Kashmir)and they take full advantage of such situations and
their sympathizers are ready to pounce on the army if things go awry.
When civilians pay the price, it might be prudent to look into the
role also of the insurgents.
I hope you are not trying to show that insurgents are innocent and
have played no part.
And thats about as much I can type on this tiny keybrd. More tomorrow:)
BTW KJD just asked I fwd it-he is not a subscriber I think.
--Ram
On 5/24/07, Chan Mahanta
<<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Any comments on it on your part ,Ram :-)?
c-da
At 6:15 PM -0500 5/24/07, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
Of Army 'Excess'
One of the remarks made by Mr Wasbir Hussain in his column entitled
"Men with weapons must have accountability" (The Sentinel, May 19,
2007) could not help but catch my eye. A direct quote, perhaps,
would carry the right flavour: "The action of the Army, police or
the paramilitary in eliminating any innocent civilian... is
unacceptable." True, checks and balances are necessary, and
accountability on the part of the security forces must be
established and responsibility fixed. However, one must understand
that the problem of terrorism cannot be tackled gingerly, nor can it
be equated with the delicate act of delivering babies.
The counter-insurgency operations are a lethal game that entails
>quickness and keenness of perception. It is a killing field where
the Army has to fight an invisible enemy, who hides amongst the
>common masses and does not wear uniform. It is the terrorist who
decides when, where and how, while the soldier is at the receiving
>end. In order to overcome this disadvantage, a soldier must be
swift-reacting for which lightening reactions are summoned into
>actions, whenever and wherever there is an iota of doubt. By being
fast and unpredictable, a soldier garners the ability to alarm the
>terrorist before the latter unnerves him. Time is not on the side of
>the soldier, and he lives only if he reacts swiftly. Under this
>circumstance, human errors are bound to occur occasionally.
>The Army, in essence, is a well-oiled killing machine, who are
taught to annihilate the enemy. Its mathematics is simple:
>''anti-national'' means ''you have to eliminate''. Ideally, the Army
>is not a force to be unleashed in civilian space. When they are
marshalled into a troubled spot to help civil administration to curb
violence, a soldier does not differentiate between a foreign enemy
and a home-grown separatist. His only objective is to erase the foe.
>Since the terrorist almost always hides amongst the common people,
>the security forces must treat everyone with suspicion and that
>keeps the soldiers on their toes. This may cause harassment to the
public, but it is the price one has to pay when the security forces
>are fighting an invisible enemy. This is precisely why we get to
read the news of innocent civilians being killed mistakenly by the
>Army. But then, these cases are exceptions rather than rule.
It would be worthwhile to keep in mind that the terrorists are
certainly not normal human beings who harbour sentiments such as
>compassion and love. Had they been so, they would not have been able
to stand to shoot at another human being's head point-blank - that
too, that of a non-combatant civilian. And this speaks volumes of
their mental make-up.
>The fact remains that brutes only understand brute force.
Kamaljit Deka,
Sugarland, Texas.
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