Naxalites of the People’s War Group (PWG) have further expanded their external linkages. Recent evidence indicates that they have formed links with like-minded elements in the United Kingdom. This expansion is part of a well thought-out strategy to broaden their ties to include groups that would help them enhance their influence, strengthen their capabilities and enrich their coffers. The PWG has floated a new front organization to form linkages with elements and groups living abroad. The decision to float the new organization, interviews with top security force officials revealed––was made in November 2002. Later the Friends of Indian Revolution (FOIR) came into being. In the past, the PWG’s over-ground cadres, including those in Delhi, had helped the outfit to form ties with secessionist and terrorist groups. Eventually, the PWG received training and weapons from the LTTE, and procure arms from secessionist groups based in India’s North-east region.

A significant objective of the FOIR is to carry out propaganda abroad for the PWG Naxalites. In this process, the PWG’s front-men might seek the support of liberals and rights activists by magnifying the ‘excesses’ committed by over-zealous security force personnel. The PWG’s over-ground contacts abroad might rally civil rights groups for creating noises about human rights violations in India and petition their respective governments, or stage protests before Indian missions. In fact, sympathizers of Nepal’s Maoist insurgents, with whom the PWG has fraternal ties, acted similarly, following India arresting their senior leader and international liaison C P Gajurel ‘Gaurav’ in August 2003. They had appealed to Indian missions in various European countries for his safe release and urged India not to turn him in to Nepal.

Besides, FOIR representatives abroad would seek to raise finances for the ‘cause’ of the Indian ‘revolution’.  It is, indeed, ironical that they term their armed insurrection a ‘democratic revolution’, through which they seek to herald a ‘New Democratic Revolution’ on the lines of the Chinese revolution. Also, they would seek to propagate their version of the “truth” under the guise of marketing Maoist literature, as well as expand FOIR caucuses to several towns and countries. The gullible among the Indians there and the ‘anti-imperialist’ lobbies would, thus, become easy targets without knowing the full range of activities of the PWG––including mindless and indefensible killings of innocent civilians, destruction of public and private property and forcible occupation of land––or its ultimate objective of seizing political power through an armed insurrection. In the process of forming these linkages, the PWG is more likely to get into contact with agents of countries that wish to create internal turmoil in India, or with secessionist groups financing separatist and terrorist elements operating on Indian soil. Such developments have the potential to challenge India’s internal security situation.

On the other hand, changes in the PWG’s attitude towards the Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organisations of South Asia (CCOMPOSA), a Maoist front formed in July 2001are also evident. Besides the PWG, its members include the Maoists of Nepal, and 10 other Maoist groups, belonging to various South Asian countries. The PWG’s policies have not been accepted in a chorus by all CCOMPOSA members. Discordant notes on ideological and political issues were reportedly heard at its second annual conference. Indeed, insufficient preparation on the part of PWG representatives, the outfit later admitted, resulted in their signing a joint declaration parts of which the central leadership later disputed.

The PWG’s decision to join CCOMPOSA was impulsive. It was influenced by the Nepal Maoists––who have clearly emerged as the leaders of the Maoist groups in South Asia and around the world following the stunning successes in a short span of time. They, thus, replaced the preeminent position the PWG enjoyed among Maoist revolutionaries. Therefore, unsurprisingly, the PWG felt diminished and slighted, and wishes to make the others see ‘reason’. But, the PWG is likely to continue it s association with CCOMPOSA because opposing Indian hegemony is a major objective of the forum, and the PWG subscribes to this ideologically. Further, CCOMPOSA members have agreed to share each others’ experiences and strengthen one another to advance Maoist movements in the South Asian countries. The PWG has little to lose and more to gain if it were to learn new tactics or seek the assistance of other groups, if they have the resources to help it to acquire new weapons.

Thus, the PWG has been working steadily to expand its links with newer areas of the world that hold greater promise of ‘returns’ while, at the same time, continuing its ties with fraternal groups in the region without compromising on its core.