SOUTH ASIA INTELLIGENCE REVIEW
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Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia May 27-June 2, 2013
INDIA CPI-Maoist active in nine Assam Districts, says Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi: Chief Minister (CM) Tarun Gogoi on May 30 stated that Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) are active in nine Districts of the State. The CM commented, "We are concerned over Maoists activities in the state and have been keeping a close tab on them since 2006. Our sustained vigil has failed the Maoists elements to set up a statewide base so far though they have become active in certain pockets in nine of the districts of the State". Shilong Times, May 31, 2013. Maoists-PLA links broken due to logistical problem in Myanmar, says MHA: Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary (northeast) in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on May 30 said that the link between Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been due to logistical problem in Myanmar. He said, "The link between Maoists and PLA has been broken long time ago due to logistical problem in Myanmar and strong presence of security forces along the India-Myanmar border." He also said, "They (Maoists leaders) have visited Manipur and Nagaland, but they have not been able to establish themselves. In the Northeast, only Assam has few remnants of Maoist activities. In the case of Meghalaya, there is no Maoist presence. Nagaland Post, May 30, 2013. No talks until Maoists abjure violence, says Minister of State for Home R.P.N. Singh: The Central Government on May 28 said that there would be no talks with the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) until they gave up violence. Pointing out that the last six months had seen Maoists' "barbarism" reach its peak, Minister of State for Home R.P.N. Singh said there was an urgent need to review the policy on dealing with Maoists. He said, "[The Maoists] did not come forward [when the then Home Minister P. Chidambaram offered to conduct peace talks]… They are not interested in talks or following the democratic process. There will be no talks unless they abjure violence. We will review our strategy to deal with Naxals." The Hindu, May 29, 2013. US to assist India in curbing FICN circulation: The United States (US) has agreed to help India impose sanctions against companies which manufacture and supply paper, ink and thread for printing Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN). India suspects that there is a rogue supplier providing material to Pakistan where the same is used for printing FICN on Pakistan's state printing machines. Economic Times, May 31, 2013. India and Nepal agree to share intelligence to curb terrorism: India and Nepal on June 1 agreed to exchange information to combat terrorism and curb criminal activities like human and drug trafficking and smuggling of Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) across their open border. During the annual Home Secretary-level talks between Home Secretary R.K. Singh and Nepalese counterpart Navin Kumar Ghimire held in Kathmandu (Capital of Nepal) both sides agreed to increase vigilance and cooperation in border areas. Times of India, June 2, 2013. NEPAL HLPC taskforce agrees on 491-member Constituent Assembly: A meeting of the eight-member taskforce that is entrusted with the responsibility of offering suggestions to the High Level Political Committee (HLPC) on June 2 agreed on the proposal to downsize the 601-member Constituent Assembly (CA) to 491 members. As per the agreement, 240 members will be elected directly from electoral constituencies, other 240 will be nominated under the proportional representation system and the remaining 11 members will be appointed by the government. A meeting of the HLPC, held at the Army integration Special Committee secretariat in New Baneshwor, on May 30 formed an eight-member taskforce to sort out contentious issues of the election-related ordinance. My Republica, May 31-June 3, 2013. Government committed to hold CA elections by 3rd week of November 2013, says Chairman of the interim election council Khil Raj Regmi: Chairman of the interim election council Khil Raj Regmi on May 29 said that the government was committed to hold the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections by the 3rd week of November (1st week of the Nepali month of Mangsir). He said that the government was in consultations with the parties to resolve the differences on the proposed election ordinance and that the election date would be announced after a "favourable political situation" is created. He also said that the government expected cooperation from the political parties and other stakeholders to create election atmosphere. Nepal News, May 30, 2013. Looking for an alternative to the Khila Raj Regmi-led electoral government would lead to another 'political disaster in the country, warns UCPN-M Chairman Puhspa Kamal Dahal: Chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) Puhspa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda on May 28 warned that looking for an alternative to the Khila Raj Regmi-led electoral government would lead to another 'political disaster' in the country. Dahal said, "It is sad and unfortunate that the same parties that signed the 11-point agreement and 25-point ordinance should be looking for an alternative to the current government." This is not the time to be looking for an alternative to the Regmi-led government, but a time to cooperate among each other for fixing the date for fresh elections, he added. My Republica, May 29, 2013. PAKISTAN 110 militants and fife SFs among 115 persons killed during the week in FATA: At least 23 suspected militants and two soldiers were killed after clashes in Bara Chamkani area of the Kurram Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on June 1. At least 34 militants and three Security Forces (SFs) were killed in gunfight in an area between the Kurram and Khyber Agencies on May 31. At least 18 militants were killed and several others were injured when Pakistani jets bombed militant hideouts in Tabay area of Kurram Agency on May 30. The Army and Paramilitary Forces on May 29 killed 15 militants and destroyed their five hideouts located in Parachamkani area of Kurram Agency FATA on May 29. In addition, at least six militants, including the 'deputy chief' of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Wali-ur-Rehman, were killed in a United State (US) drone strike in Chashma village near Miranshah town of North Waziristan Agency. The Army and Paramilitary Forces on May 28 killed 14 militants and destroyed their three hideouts located in Parachamkani, a central subdivision of Kurram Agency. Daily Times; Dawn; The News; Tribune; Central Asia Online; The Nation; The Frontier Post; Pakistan Today; Pakistan Observer, May 27- June 3, 2013. TTP 'deputy chief' Wali-ur-Rehman killed in drone strike in FATA: The deputy 'chief' of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Wali-ur-Rehman was killed along with militants in a United State (US) drone strike in Chashma village near Miranshah town of North Waziristan Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Area (FAAT) on May 29. Confirming the death of Wali-ur-Rehman, TTP 'spokesman' Ehsanullah Ehsan on May 30 announced that the offer to hold talks with the incoming Pakistani Government was also being withdrawn. The TTP also chose Khan Said as the new 'deputy chief'. Daily Times; Dawn; Tribune, May29-31, 2013. Karachi's security to weaken if TTP not confronted, warns Combating Terrorism Centre: Combating Terrorism Centre, an American think tank, in a report on the growing sway of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Karachi warned the Pakistani authorities that if they fail to confront the growing influence of TTP in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, the militant network will weaken the city's overall security and stability. The study, released last week, identifies the various Taliban factions operating in the city, the neighbourhoods where they hold influence and the various methods of extortion they use. The News, May 28, 2013. Freelance journalist Shahid Orakzai files petition in Supreme Court to stop parleys with TTP: The Supreme Court was petitioned on May 28 for issuance of a declaration that no person, civil or military, can engage in any contact or negotiation with any Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an act that is forbidden by Article 256. Freelance journalist Shahid Orakzai has filed the petition under Article 184(3) of the constitution, nominating as respondents the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSS) through its chairman and Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Daily Times, May 29, 2013. SRI LANKA TNA calls for full power devolution to provinces through the 13th Amendment to the Constitution: The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on May 24 insisted on complete power devolution to the provinces through the 13th Amendment to the Constitution since problems over the provincial councils are due to the incomplete devolution of power by successive governments. TNA parliamentarian, Suresh Premachandran said that the respective governments had appointed committees that have made various proposals but the problems over the provincial councils in the country have not been resolved through the years. Premachandran said the TNA expects nothing less than complete devolution of financial, Police and land powers to the provinces through the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Colombo Page, May 25, 2013.
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