Maoist Hostage Crisis in Odisha: Challenges Ahead
09 Apr, 2012 · 3599
Rajat Kumar Kujur argues that long-term Maoists challenge shall remain despite the end of the present debacle
With Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik declaring his willingness to swap 27 under trial alleged Maoist cadres and supporters against the kidnapped Italian national Bosusco Paolo and the BJD legislator Jhina Hikaka, the stage seems set for the ongoing hostage crisis to end. Although the Maoists are yet to respond to the government offer, there are reasons to believe that they will accept the same, because the Chief Minister must have made his offer public only after a lot of clandestine deliberations. Of course one cannot rule out the possibility of more arms twisting by the Maoists since the government is visibly shaken. But all hostage drama comes to an end and that’s applicable to the ongoing twin hostage crisis of Odisha too. But does the release of hostages really mark the end of this crisis? It is necessary at this juncture to relook on the whole episode and decode the messages that are hidden in different plots of this hostage drama.
The Maoist Movement in Odisha is heading towards a stiff battle for turf with the Odisha State Organizing Committee (OSOC) led by Sabyasachi Panda and Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) led by Ramakrishna and Daya at logger heads. Inter-organizational and intra-organizational conflicts have been the unique features of this decade long Maoist movement of India. However, the fragmented character of the Naxal movement has always proved to strengthen the movement. It was for the first time that the difference between Sabyasachi Panda and the Andhra leadership became apparent in light of this twin hostage crisis and the battle lines were drawn in front of the public. Many insiders believe this as a fight between “Odiya Nationalism and Andhra Colonialism” within the Maoist organizations of Odisha. In the days to come Odisha is likely to witness a fierce competition among the AOBSZC and OSOC in all issues starting from organization to ideology, strategy to negotiation and representation to reconciliation. Interestingly the conflict between the two would result in more Maoist related casualties, new areas coming into Maoist fold, new bases of popular support, newer issues and all these would again deteriorate the already complicated Maoist situation in the state.
Abduction as a Maoist strategy has been time tested. As many as 489 people have been kidnapped by the rebels from Chhattisgarh and 463 from Jharkhand in the past four years. Odisha on the other hand has witnessed 137 such abductions since 2008. The most high profile Maoist abduction in Odisha until recently was the abduction of then Malkangiri Collector R. Vineel Krishna in 2011 whose release was secured only after senior Maoist leader Ganti Prasad was set free and twelve Maoists were allowed to get bail. Now with the state government’s willingness to swap 27 under trials belonging to Maoist groups and Chashi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS), the time tested Maoist formula of abduction is all set to get a major boost. This will again bring more misery for the state and certainly it will go against the morale of the security forces.
In the whole episode the Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) has emerged as a major player as far as Maoist movement in the state is concerned. The government list consists of fifteen CMAS members who could walk free if the Maoists accept the Swapping offer. The government has always claimed CMAS to be a Maoist frontal organization and this has been vehemently contested by the CMAS. There has been a conflicting view with regard to Maoist-CMAS connection, but there has to be a connection between Maoist conflict resolution and CMAS. Why only CMAS, there are a number of organizations in the state who are leading people’s resistance and they are lured by the Maoist forces. Government must realize the solution to the ongoing Maoist conflict lies not in the bureaucratic files but much of it depends on the popular involvement. In a Democracy fighting for one’s right cannot be equated with Maoist wrongs and government must reach out to these people’s resistance groups and organizations before they seek solace in the Maoist Ideology.
Government in Odisha seems to have no confidence on its own political leadership. Maoist problem is a political problem and the legitimate political actors must play a definite role and this only can ensure a defeat of Maoist ideology and strategy. When the whole state is grappling with this twin hostage crisis it reflects the farsightedness of the government that it only appointed three bureaucrats as its negotiators. Had it appointed some from the credible political leadership the negotiations would have been more broad-based and could have opened the door for future negotiations and consultations. Gains and losses apart, crisis like this must be used as a learning episode. The lessons learnt are forever, because the current crisis might get over but Maoism as a challenge to democratic governance is likely to remain for quite few years to come.
The Maoist Movement in Odisha is heading towards a stiff battle for turf with the Odisha State Organizing Committee (OSOC) led by Sabyasachi Panda and Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) led by Ramakrishna and Daya at logger heads. Inter-organizational and intra-organizational conflicts have been the unique features of this decade long Maoist movement of India. However, the fragmented character of the Naxal movement has always proved to strengthen the movement. It was for the first time that the difference between Sabyasachi Panda and the Andhra leadership became apparent in light of this twin hostage crisis and the battle lines were drawn in front of the public. Many insiders believe this as a fight between “Odiya Nationalism and Andhra Colonialism” within the Maoist organizations of Odisha. In the days to come Odisha is likely to witness a fierce competition among the AOBSZC and OSOC in all issues starting from organization to ideology, strategy to negotiation and representation to reconciliation. Interestingly the conflict between the two would result in more Maoist related casualties, new areas coming into Maoist fold, new bases of popular support, newer issues and all these would again deteriorate the already complicated Maoist situation in the state.
Abduction as a Maoist strategy has been time tested. As many as 489 people have been kidnapped by the rebels from Chhattisgarh and 463 from Jharkhand in the past four years. Odisha on the other hand has witnessed 137 such abductions since 2008. The most high profile Maoist abduction in Odisha until recently was the abduction of then Malkangiri Collector R. Vineel Krishna in 2011 whose release was secured only after senior Maoist leader Ganti Prasad was set free and twelve Maoists were allowed to get bail. Now with the state government’s willingness to swap 27 under trials belonging to Maoist groups and Chashi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS), the time tested Maoist formula of abduction is all set to get a major boost. This will again bring more misery for the state and certainly it will go against the morale of the security forces.
In the whole episode the Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) has emerged as a major player as far as Maoist movement in the state is concerned. The government list consists of fifteen CMAS members who could walk free if the Maoists accept the Swapping offer. The government has always claimed CMAS to be a Maoist frontal organization and this has been vehemently contested by the CMAS. There has been a conflicting view with regard to Maoist-CMAS connection, but there has to be a connection between Maoist conflict resolution and CMAS. Why only CMAS, there are a number of organizations in the state who are leading people’s resistance and they are lured by the Maoist forces. Government must realize the solution to the ongoing Maoist conflict lies not in the bureaucratic files but much of it depends on the popular involvement. In a Democracy fighting for one’s right cannot be equated with Maoist wrongs and government must reach out to these people’s resistance groups and organizations before they seek solace in the Maoist Ideology.
Government in Odisha seems to have no confidence on its own political leadership. Maoist problem is a political problem and the legitimate political actors must play a definite role and this only can ensure a defeat of Maoist ideology and strategy. When the whole state is grappling with this twin hostage crisis it reflects the farsightedness of the government that it only appointed three bureaucrats as its negotiators. Had it appointed some from the credible political leadership the negotiations would have been more broad-based and could have opened the door for future negotiations and consultations. Gains and losses apart, crisis like this must be used as a learning episode. The lessons learnt are forever, because the current crisis might get over but Maoism as a challenge to democratic governance is likely to remain for quite few years to come.
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