Separatist terrorism strikes northeast Indian state, Andrew Legon

Andrew Legon — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:21:59 +0000

A series of bombs exploded across the eastern Indian state of Assam on Thursday. Between 12 and 18 blasts, the majority in the main city Guwahati, tore through crowded streets and markets. Casualty reports vary, suggesting that between 26 and 67 were killed. The coordinated blasts, which were detonated within one hour of each other, have led to widespread panic, chaos and lawlessness. No group has yet claimed responsibility.

The toD verdict: Intelligence officials are blaming these latest explosions on the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), a separatist militant group which has waged a long-running insurgency in the region. According to Assam police chief RN Mathur, "No other group can trigger so many blasts in so many places in such a coordinated fashion." Keep up to date with the latest developments and sharpest perspectives in a world of strife and struggle.

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In recent weeks security forces have launched a massive crackdown on the group's senior leadership. "Ulfa is striking back in a massive way by taking on soft targets," Mathur said.

ULFA has waged a war for independence in Assam, and the expulsion of non-Assamese people from the state, for over two decades. An effort to start peace talks between the rebels and the Indian government broke down in 2006. If ULFA is responsible, this latest attack serves to highlight the numerous ethnic and national fissures which fragment India's multi-cultural, multi-ethnic mosaic. India's northeast in particular is home to numerous armed separatist groups. It is estimated that more than 10,000 people have died in this region in the past decade.

Deadly car bombs hit Somaliland

A series of suicide car bombs exploded across northern Somaliland and Puntland on Wednesday. Reports indicate that at least 29 people were killed when five bombs ripped through key targets including the presidential palace, the Ethiopian consulate and UN offices, all within minutes of each other. Both regions had until now been largely spared the daily violence rocking southern and central Somalia.

Puntland's President Mohamoud Musa Hirsi Adde said the attacks were "organised from the same place and by the same people." Responsibility for the attacks is currently unclear, however most suspect Islamist insurgents, given the coordinated nature of the bombings and the targeting of Ethiopia. US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Jendayi Frazer said they bore the markings of al-Qaeda.

Jean Ping of the African Union noted they "came at a time of renewed efforts by IGAD, the AU and the United Nations to bring about lasting peace, security and reconciliation in Somalia." Regional leaders are currently meeting in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, to discuss the ongoing crisis in Somalia and the performance of the transitional federal government.

Suicide attack on Afghan government ministry

Three people were killed and nine injured when a suicide bomb ripped through an Afghan ministry in Kabul on Thursday. Two men using small arms fought police guards at the entrance to the Ministry of Culture and Information while a third gained entry to the building and detonated the bomb. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack in statements to news agencies. Although security in the capital has improved, with attacks down by 50 per cent on last year, this incident is the latest "audacious" attack by Taliban militants. A number of high-profile incidents in the capital have demonstrated increasingly sophisticated tactics, such as the mixing of both suicide bombers and gunmen, which analysts believe is designed to gain maximum press coverage.

Congolese rebels declare ceasefire

Rebels led by General Nkunda fighting government forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have declared a unilateral cease-fire after a four day offensive in North Kivu province. Forces of the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) were just 25 kilometres from the major city of Goma when they declared a halt to fighting late yesterday. A statement signed by Nkunda said the intention was "not to panic the population of Goma as well as those who are in displaced persons camps in the immediate environs of the city". Despite the ceasefire, chaotic scenes have erupted in the city with reports that Congolese soldiers are out of control. Tens of thousands of people have fled the city contributing to an already dire humanitarian situation. According to the UN, fighting since 28 August has pushed the number of displaced civilians in North Kivu to more than one million.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that the conflict "is creating a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic dimensions." He also suggested that the conflict threatens the entire region, referring to reports that Rwandan soldiers were involved in the fighting against Congolese government forces, and that heavy weapons fire had taken place across the DRC-Rwanda border.

Collapse of the Moro peace process: disaster and opportunity

Roughly 300 people have been killed and over 650,000 displaced in more than two months of fighting between Philippine security forces and renegade Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters. The escalation of violence follows the Supreme Court's decision to block the implementation of a Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between the government and the MILF in August.

According to a report by Amnesty International released on Wednesday, the suspension of peace talks between the government and Moro rebels in Mindanao threatens the lives of "hundreds of thousands of civilians." Another report by the Asian Centre for Human Rights concludes that the collapse of the peace talks may provide an opportunity for both parties to address inherent flaws within the peace process. According to the report, the indigenous Lumad people of Mindanao, who never resorted to armed rebellion, were never included in the peace process with the Moros. If the MOA-AD had been signed on 5 August 2008, it would have meant the loss of at least one million hectares of Ancestral Domains belonging to these indigenous peoples. The non-inclusion is not the only a flaw in the peace process but constitutes a clear violation of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.

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Separatist terrorism strikes northeast Indian state, Andrew Legon