South Asia Conflict Report: April 2008

Muhammad Azam

In April, South Asia, as a whole, became more violent than in the previous month. More than 3,480 casualties were reported in Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Indian occupied Kashmir, Afghanistan and Pakistan. One thousand three hundred and forty (1,340) people lost their lives and two thousand one hundred and forty (2,140) were injured. But the casualties increased mainly due to the Sri Lankan civil war as it grew fiercer. Table 1 shows country vise casualties.

Table 1

India[2]

One hundred and thirty six (136) casualties were reported in all – twenty eight (28) deaths and one hundred and eight (108) injuries – in India during April. Fourteen (14) violent incidents were reported in total in The Hindu, mostly clashes between various groups, and, sometimes between police and armed groups. One Cycle bomb blast was reported in a market where forty people were injured. Curfew had to be imposed in Mumbai (Maharashtra).

CPI (M) and NSCN (I-M) each was involved in two clashes; RSP, BUPC, GJM, NSCN (K) and NSCN (U) each in one. Maoists also attacked a police station and killed five policemen. One BJP leader was murdered.  Six SPM and two NSCN (I-M) activists were killed. In addition, CPI (M) and NSCN (U) each lost one activist. Five policemen were also among the killed. Bihar state remained at the top where twelve (12) people were killed. State vise figures of killings are given in Table 2.

Table 2: State vise Killings

Maximum injuries took place in Assam and Rajasthan. State vise figures for injuries are given in Table 3.

Table 3: State vise Injuries

Kashmir[3]

Five violent incidents were reported from Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir during the month of April, in The Hindu. The incidents took place in Jammu, Doda, Reasi, Kupwara and Baramulla districts. Fourteen freedom-fighters sacrificed their lives in these incidents. Three gun battles resulted in the martyrdom of four freedom-fighters. Five others were also martyred in two operations launched by security forces. In the middle of the month, Indian army troops moved closer to the Line of Control.

In a statement, President of Pakistan, General (retired) Pervez Musharraf, said that Pakistan is pursuing a “bilateral approach” to amicably resolve the Kashmir issue. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh emphasized the need for strengthening the bonds that exist between the people on both sides of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that in the modern world of globalization, borders have lost their old relevance and this is true of the people of India and Pakistan, including people living on both sides of Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir. Senior BJP leader, L.K Advani, urged for promoting commercial relations between India and Pakistan. He said that “commerce should precede Kashmir issue…. The Kashmir problem would take time to resolve.”

Nepal[4]

Seventy (70) incidents were reported during the month of April in Nepal, in The Himalayan Times. Most of these incidents were bomb blasts, forty-four (44) in total. The bomb blasts included thirteen socket, two sutali, one pressure cooker and one suicide. The suicide bomb blast was the most lethal incident, which killed thirteen people; more than one hundred others were injured. These violent incidents resulted into four hundred and forty-one casualties – thirty-six (36) deaths and four hundred and five (405) injuries.

Thirteen (13) clashes took place between different groups. Maoists and Nepali Congress were involved in most of the clashes. Six firing and shooting incidents and four violent attacks – two by Maoists, one by communists and one by police – were reported. Curfew had to be imposed three times.

Electoral candidates were frequently targeted in these violent activities. At least seven of the reported attacks were against the candidates. Three candidates were killed – one independent, one RPP-N and one UML. Another RPP candidate was injured. One of the ministers also died in the suicide bomb blast. Six Maoists and one ATMM commander were also among the killed. RJP and UML lost one cadre each. Seven policemen lost their lives.

Finance minister, President NSU and a Tarun Dal leader and one of the election officials were among the injured. The injured included one hundred and twenty-two (122) NC, one MJF, twenty-six (26) UML, nine Maoists, two RPP and three JTMM-J activists. Six civilians - three children and three passengers – also suffered injuries.

Elections for Nepalese Constituent Assembly (CA) were held during the month. Maoists won the maximum (220) seats and emerged as the single largest political force in the 601-member CA. Violent incidents at polling stations were also reported. Polling was postponed at seven places.

After the victory, a senior Maoist leader, Baburam Bhattarai, gave 28 day ultimatum to King Gyanenendra. He said that the King “had 28 days to vacate the palace and if he did not do so the people would force him to do.” He added that People have given them the mandate “to turn Nepal into a republic.”

Sri Lanka[5]

Total 1899 casualties took place in Sri Lanka during the month of April this year – seven hundred and seven (707) deaths and one thousand one hundred and ninety-two (1192) injuries. Around 78 percent of the killed were LTTE rebels and 15 percent were the army soldiers, as table 4 shows. Two female LTTE rebels were also killed. Others killed included two TMVP activists, one Christian priest, two policemen and other twenty-nine (29) civilians. An extra ninety-eight (98) people were either killed or wounded – 91 LTTE rebels and 7 army soldiers.

Apart from 616 LTTE rebels and 405 soldiers, 171 others were also injured, including two PNM members and two civil security personnel. Seventy (70) civilians also suffered injuries.

Table 4

Total three hundred and fifty-two (352) incidents were reported in the country during the month. One hundred and nine (109) clashes and confrontations were reported including four heavy fights. Artillery, infantry and air force were used by the security forces.

Sri Lankan Air Force launched seventeen (17) raids against LTTE positions, bases and boats. Supersonic fighter jets were used once; fighter jets at ten occasions; and gunship helicopters three times. Twenty army and Special Task Force (STF) operations were reported, including five offensive and ten search operations. Army-men also ambushed and sniped the rebels, three and seventeen times respectively. At three different times LTTE boats, four times LTTE gun and artillery positions and, at four occasions, their mortar positions were targeted. Their training bases were also bombed.

Table 5: Types of incidents and their numbers

In addition to one hundred and nine (109) clashes and confrontations between LTTE and the security forces, twenty-nine (34) attacks were launched by the LTTE rebels during the month. Apart from artillery and mortar guns, they also used aircrafts. At least nine mortar attacks and nine claymore mine explosions by the rebels were reported. LTTE pistol gangs successfully targeted army-men. Suicide bomb blast by an LTTE rebel caused fifteen deaths and ninety injuries. Among the dead were former national and South Asian marathon gold medalist and an SSP officer were among the injured.

Wanni liberation operation continued. Army captured LTTE’s stronghold “Lima Base-3” in Mannar. Already continuing emergency was extended further for one month. Minor clashes between supporters of different political groups were also reported.

Pakistan

During the month of April, three hundred and ninety five (395) causalities were reported in Pakistan – one hundred and twenty-four (124) deaths and two hundred and seventy-one (271) injuries. Balochistan witnessed an increased insurgency. Security situation in NWFP, however, has shown signs of improvement after the formation of new government and violent incidents have been reduced. Political violence led to huge losses of life and property in the city of Karachi during the month.

Afghanistan

Five hundred and ninety-five (595) casualties were reported in Afghanistan during the month of April – four hundred and thirty-one (431) deaths and one hundred and sixty-four (164) injuries. Sixty of the killed were NATO troops and Afghan soldiers and government personnel; one hundred and ninety-two Taliban and other militants were also killed. One Polish and three Canadian soldiers were also among the dead. Another Polish soldier suffered injuries. Two Indians were killed.

At least forty-four civilians, including one woman, died; and thirty-eight others were injured, including two children. Twenty-six (26) people died and fourteen (14) others were injured in suicide bomb blasts.

Table 6: Casualties in March 2008

Seven suicide blasts, eight rocket attacks, six NATO and ISAF ground and air strikes were reported. Tow landmine blasts took place. Mortars were fired several times.

President Karzai was also targeted when he was attending an official ceremony in Kabul. Fazal Rahman Chamkani, a parliamentarian, lost his life in the deadly attack. Taliban burned a truck carrying food supplies for ISAF soldiers. Three schools were torched and another blown up by the Insurgents. Armed groups attacked a health clinic. Taliban killed eight of their own fellows in infighting.