FUSION OF INDIAN AND NEPALI MAOIST INSURGENTS FEARED

AFPC Asia Security Monitor ^ | July 9, 2003 | Al Santoli, ed.

[bruinbirdman]

Two Maoist guerrilla groups active in India's Jharkhand state (bordered by West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Chhattisgarh) are planning a merger to strengthen their base and counter an intensified police offensive, the Times of India reports. The Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) and People's War Group (PWG), both banned rebel groups, are expected to merge by October or November this year, Indian intelligence officials say. Security officials believe the merger indicates the pressure the rebel groups have been under due to increased police action. "Top leaders and commanders of both groups have been either killed or arrested in police action," an intelligence official said. Though they interpret the MCC and PWG merger plan as a sign of weakness, police are worried at the prospect. Adding to their concern are the links emerging between guerrillas in Jharkhand and Maoist rebels in Nepal. In addition, there have also been indications that Maoist outfits in Jharkhand might have connect! ions with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), a secessionist insurgent group active in Assam. Police also fear a merger would lead to a further modernization of the guerrilla force. Already some rebels possess mobile phones, bulletproof jackets and automatic weapons.

SAUDI MONEY FUELS INDONESIAN MILITANTS

July 7:

The influence of Saudi Arabia, and Saudi charities, has been growing steadily in Indonesia, the New York Times reports. From the financing of educational institutions to giving money for militant Islamic groups, the Saudis are playing an important role in the battle for the soul of Islam, Indonesian scholars say. Saudi money has come in two forms: above-board funds for religious and educational purposes, and quietly disbursed funds for militant Islamic groups. The charities have had a significant effect on extremist groups, allowing some to keep going and inspiring others to start recruiting. In 2000, Al Haramain, a Saudi charity, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indonesian Ministry of Religion that allowed it to finance educational institutions. However, according to a senior Jemaah Islamiah (JI) member, Umar Faruq, who is now in American custody, Al Haramain also served as a conduit for money to the JI terror group. The flow of Saudi money and influence into e! ducational institutions, combined with such factors as Indonesia's nearly 20 percent unemployment rate, increasingly allows stricter interpretations of Islam to gain favor in the predominately moderate Muslim nation.

The New Delhi South Asia Intelligence Review reports the largest seizure of ammunition and explosives in Bangladesh history. Bangladesh officials have arrested an alleged cadre of the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) - a tribal insurgent group operating in the North-Eastern Indian State of Tripura, which shares an 856-kilometer border with Bangladesh. Most of Northeast India's prominent insurgent groups receive financial and logistics support, including arms and ammunition through the Bangladesh-China-Myanmar border, and many of them have been provided safe haven in Bangladesh. Bangladesh authorities have also disclosed that some of the seized contraband is of Chinese origin. The massive seizure of ammunition and explosives from an Indian insurgent group on Bangladeshi soil further strengthens India's claim that insurgency in its Northeast depends on "foreign" support.

[Conspiracy Guy]

A small nuke should fuse them just fine.

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[Jacob Kell]

So what else is new? The Indian Naxalites and Nepali Maoists have always been buddy-buddy.