red cat
9th May 2011, 17:16
http://libcom.org/news/maoism-south-asia-republican-nepal-indian-naxalites-25122007
A few observations on Indian Maoism
The Nepal Maoists have had strong links with the much older Maoist 'Naxalite' movements in neighbouring India. There is a long and interesting article on past and present aspects of this movement, here; http://www.himalmag.com/2007/december/cover_feature_india_naxatile.html
The article reveals that whereas universities were previously the heartlands of recruitment for the Indian maoists - leftist guerilla movements traditionally recruited their functionaries from over-qualified students with few career prospects due to stagnent economic conditions - now the booming IT-driven economy and accompanying growth of the skilled middle class has destroyed this cadre recruitment for the the Maoist movement.
The article also reports that in those remoter forest areas with great potential for mining and other resource extractions the Maoist threat is being used by vested government and business interests as an excuse to use terror to clear forest villages and herd villagers into less remote camps near main roads. This separates them from their traditional means of subsistence in preparation for a new life as wage labour in the mines or other extractive industries. The new enclosures... or in the sanitised jargon of modern security specialists - "strategic hamleting". http://www.himalmag.com/2007/december/cover_feature_chhattisgarh.html
(http://www.himalmag.com/2007/december/cover_feature_chhattisgarh.html)
The article reports too that in some areas the Maoists are well accommodated within the local political ruling structures and have a clever scam operating with them; the Maoists keep up sufficient level of activity to show 'evidence' of them being a security threat - this justifies regular applications by the remote local government to the central government for increased security funding. Once secured, the proceeds from the government funds are then divided amongst the Maoists, local politicians, government officials and security forces.
After several decades of activity the Indian Maoist guerillas only have any control over the remoter densely forested areas where there is either minimal or no state presence. The article describes how this has led some Indian Maoists to drop the gun and adopt more mainstream political tactics, similar to the change in tactics of the Nepali Maoists. But most Naxalites still look with scorn upon what they see as the sellout of the Nepali party since it laid down the gun.
Wow. :blink:
A few observations on Indian Maoism
The Nepal Maoists have had strong links with the much older Maoist 'Naxalite' movements in neighbouring India. There is a long and interesting article on past and present aspects of this movement, here; http://www.himalmag.com/2007/december/cover_feature_india_naxatile.html
The article reveals that whereas universities were previously the heartlands of recruitment for the Indian maoists - leftist guerilla movements traditionally recruited their functionaries from over-qualified students with few career prospects due to stagnent economic conditions - now the booming IT-driven economy and accompanying growth of the skilled middle class has destroyed this cadre recruitment for the the Maoist movement.
The article also reports that in those remoter forest areas with great potential for mining and other resource extractions the Maoist threat is being used by vested government and business interests as an excuse to use terror to clear forest villages and herd villagers into less remote camps near main roads. This separates them from their traditional means of subsistence in preparation for a new life as wage labour in the mines or other extractive industries. The new enclosures... or in the sanitised jargon of modern security specialists - "strategic hamleting". http://www.himalmag.com/2007/december/cover_feature_chhattisgarh.html
(http://www.himalmag.com/2007/december/cover_feature_chhattisgarh.html)
The article reports too that in some areas the Maoists are well accommodated within the local political ruling structures and have a clever scam operating with them; the Maoists keep up sufficient level of activity to show 'evidence' of them being a security threat - this justifies regular applications by the remote local government to the central government for increased security funding. Once secured, the proceeds from the government funds are then divided amongst the Maoists, local politicians, government officials and security forces.
After several decades of activity the Indian Maoist guerillas only have any control over the remoter densely forested areas where there is either minimal or no state presence. The article describes how this has led some Indian Maoists to drop the gun and adopt more mainstream political tactics, similar to the change in tactics of the Nepali Maoists. But most Naxalites still look with scorn upon what they see as the sellout of the Nepali party since it laid down the gun.
Wow. :blink: