Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CHENNAI399
2008-12-08 08:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Chennai
how-toVZCZCXRO0709 RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW DE RUEHCG #0399 3430803 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 080803Z DEC 08 FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2004 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3425 RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS CHENNAI 000399
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM IN
SUBJECT: India and the Maoist Threat
UNCLAS CHENNAI 000399
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM IN
SUBJECT: India and the Maoist Threat
1. (SBU) Summary: Lieutenant General K.M. Seth, a retired
counter-insurgency expert and the former Governor of Chhattisgarh,
gave a November 21 lecture entitled "Naxalism: Threat to Internal
Security" to the Chennai-based Centre for Security Analysis. Seth,
who served as Chhattisgarh's Governor from June 2003 to January
2007, gave a candid and pessimistic state of India's efforts to
combat the Maoist threat. He described a 10,000 square kilometer
area in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra as a "totally liberated" Maoist
zone within which the insurgents operate training and logistics
camps. Seth also said the Maoists are becoming increasingly
sophisticated in terms of military tactics, and have links to groups
outside of India. End summary.
Enormous Maoist "liberated zone" in the heart of India
--------------
2. (SBU) Seth spoke at length of a 10,000 square kilometer heavily
forested area known as "Abhujmadh," 7,000 of which fall in
Chhattisgarh and 3,000 in neighboring Maharashtra. (Note:
Chhattisgarh police sources have told Consulate General Mumbai that
the area in question is even larger: approximately 21,000 square
kilometers. End note.) According to Seth, Abhujmadh has virtually
no roads. He said there is "no police or government authority"
within Abujhmadh and that, as a private citizen, he can "now admit"
that it is a "totally liberated" Maoist zone. Maoist groups operate
training and logistics camps, as well as hold leadership meetings
there, making Abujhmadh the "nerve center" for Maoist activities in
India, according to Seth. He added that the population of Abujhmadh
consists of around 20,000 tribal families scattered over 237
villages, all of whom live in extremely primitive circumstances.
3. (SBU) To emphasize the utter lack of government control of
Abhujmadh, Seth noted that the area has "never been surveyed" by the
government of India. According the Seth, the Indian Space Research
Organization provided a satellite survey of the region during the
time he served as Governor. Seth said the state tried to follow-up
the satellite survey with an actual on-the-ground survey, but the
state's survey teams were unable to penetrate further than two to
three kilometers into Abhujmadh before they were turned back by fear
of mines and other Maoist defenses.
Maoists show increasing "tactical expertise"
--------------
4. (SBU) Seth, a decorated ex-general with experience in
counter-insurgency operations in the northeast, discussed a 2005
Maoist attack on that killed 56 police officers at remote
Chhattisgarh police station. He explained that the Maoists
completely encircled the station in the dead of night, used
high-powered lights to blind the police sentries, and attacked them
using vehicle mounted machine guns. Seth described the attack as a
"sophisticated classical military engagement" that demonstrated
their increasing "tactical expertise."
Maoists look outside India for inspiration
--------------
5. (SBU) Seth said there are no direct links between Indian and
Nepalese Maoists, but did say India's Maoists draw "inspiration"
from the accomplishments of their neighbors to the north. He said
that in a 2005 conversation a captured Indian Maoist expressed
amazement to him over what the Nepalese Maoists had accomplished in
just a decade, especially when compared to the protracted struggle
in India. Seth did say that there are "definite and growing" links
between the Maoists and Sri Lanka's Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE),citing the presence of two LTTE representatives at the
Maoist's 2007 9th Congress.
6. (SBU) Comment: Seth, freed from the restraints of working for
the government, was pessimistic about the state of India's efforts
to quell the Maoist insurgency. His description of Abujhmadh as a
"totally liberated zone" in which the Maoists operate freely and
openly is especially troubling. Whether the Maoists have actually
"liberated" Abujhmadh is questionable. It seems more likely that
they control this swath largely because the state and federal
governments have failed to show interest in governing it themselves.
But either way, Abujhmadh's 10,000 square kilometers -- an area
roughly the size of Lebanon -- is an impressive start to the
Maoists' effort to set up a parallel government within India. End
comment.
KAPLAN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM IN
SUBJECT: India and the Maoist Threat
1. (SBU) Summary: Lieutenant General K.M. Seth, a retired
counter-insurgency expert and the former Governor of Chhattisgarh,
gave a November 21 lecture entitled "Naxalism: Threat to Internal
Security" to the Chennai-based Centre for Security Analysis. Seth,
who served as Chhattisgarh's Governor from June 2003 to January
2007, gave a candid and pessimistic state of India's efforts to
combat the Maoist threat. He described a 10,000 square kilometer
area in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra as a "totally liberated" Maoist
zone within which the insurgents operate training and logistics
camps. Seth also said the Maoists are becoming increasingly
sophisticated in terms of military tactics, and have links to groups
outside of India. End summary.
Enormous Maoist "liberated zone" in the heart of India
--------------
2. (SBU) Seth spoke at length of a 10,000 square kilometer heavily
forested area known as "Abhujmadh," 7,000 of which fall in
Chhattisgarh and 3,000 in neighboring Maharashtra. (Note:
Chhattisgarh police sources have told Consulate General Mumbai that
the area in question is even larger: approximately 21,000 square
kilometers. End note.) According to Seth, Abhujmadh has virtually
no roads. He said there is "no police or government authority"
within Abujhmadh and that, as a private citizen, he can "now admit"
that it is a "totally liberated" Maoist zone. Maoist groups operate
training and logistics camps, as well as hold leadership meetings
there, making Abujhmadh the "nerve center" for Maoist activities in
India, according to Seth. He added that the population of Abujhmadh
consists of around 20,000 tribal families scattered over 237
villages, all of whom live in extremely primitive circumstances.
3. (SBU) To emphasize the utter lack of government control of
Abhujmadh, Seth noted that the area has "never been surveyed" by the
government of India. According the Seth, the Indian Space Research
Organization provided a satellite survey of the region during the
time he served as Governor. Seth said the state tried to follow-up
the satellite survey with an actual on-the-ground survey, but the
state's survey teams were unable to penetrate further than two to
three kilometers into Abhujmadh before they were turned back by fear
of mines and other Maoist defenses.
Maoists show increasing "tactical expertise"
--------------
4. (SBU) Seth, a decorated ex-general with experience in
counter-insurgency operations in the northeast, discussed a 2005
Maoist attack on that killed 56 police officers at remote
Chhattisgarh police station. He explained that the Maoists
completely encircled the station in the dead of night, used
high-powered lights to blind the police sentries, and attacked them
using vehicle mounted machine guns. Seth described the attack as a
"sophisticated classical military engagement" that demonstrated
their increasing "tactical expertise."
Maoists look outside India for inspiration
--------------
5. (SBU) Seth said there are no direct links between Indian and
Nepalese Maoists, but did say India's Maoists draw "inspiration"
from the accomplishments of their neighbors to the north. He said
that in a 2005 conversation a captured Indian Maoist expressed
amazement to him over what the Nepalese Maoists had accomplished in
just a decade, especially when compared to the protracted struggle
in India. Seth did say that there are "definite and growing" links
between the Maoists and Sri Lanka's Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE),citing the presence of two LTTE representatives at the
Maoist's 2007 9th Congress.
6. (SBU) Comment: Seth, freed from the restraints of working for
the government, was pessimistic about the state of India's efforts
to quell the Maoist insurgency. His description of Abujhmadh as a
"totally liberated zone" in which the Maoists operate freely and
openly is especially troubling. Whether the Maoists have actually
"liberated" Abujhmadh is questionable. It seems more likely that
they control this swath largely because the state and federal
governments have failed to show interest in governing it themselves.
But either way, Abujhmadh's 10,000 square kilometers -- an area
roughly the size of Lebanon -- is an impressive start to the
Maoists' effort to set up a parallel government within India. End
comment.
KAPLAN