News Wrap
AGD
High rate of gross do
mestic Product (GDP) in India, has been accompanied by rise of absolute poverty. In terms of food intake, those unable to access 2100 calories a day per person in urban India and 2200 calories a day per person in rural India, are counted as poor. By these ‘‘poverty’’ definitions, urban India had 57% (1993-94), 65% (2004-05) and 73% (2009-10) poor. Rural India had 59% (1993-94), 70% (2004-05), and 76% (2009-10) poor. Basic consumption and nutritional intake figures point to increase in absolute poverty, nowithstanding GDP growth rate touching 8% occasionally. Resources have been shifted from the state, petty and marginal producers to a small group of large capitalists and financiers. The state support for India’s peasant agriculture no longer protects it from world market price fluctuations with not just tariffs, but also quantitative trade restrictions. Today in India, the post-harvesting loss is 35% for rice, 50% for wheat, and 35% for fruit and vegetables. India is without the infrastructure to prevent such agricultural losses.
J & K Panchayats
The 2011 panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir had recorded a turnout of more than 80%, in several of the sixteen phases. The structures of local government were placed at the village level, for the first time in 34 years. In spite of repeated assurances over the last one year. The Omar Abdulla state government has refused to devolve more powers to panchayats, which would have enabled them to control more funds, and control a larger spectrum of sectors. The 10-member committee appointed by the state government, on empowerment of panchayats, has recommended a bill that would further limit their powers. The J and K MPs and MLAs view the panchayats elected on a non-party basis, as competition. For the separatist leaders and militants the panchayats represent mainstream political forces, inimical to their objectives. The twenty three years of militancy have displaced traditional political structures at the village level. Again elected sarpanches and panchayat members have not been given powers entitled under the Panchayati Raj Act. Following the fatal shooting of two elected panchayat members in Kashmir’s Baramulla district, over sixty panchs and sarpanchs have announced their resignations, in the last week of September 2012.
Bhopal’s toxic waste
About 350 tons of toxic waste lie at the Bhopal gas disaster site, since 1984. A German firm GIZIS has refused to remove the waste, from the gas disaster site, claiming the soil was contaminated with insecticides, and that the waste was not related to one of the world’s worst industrial accidents. Earlier the Union Government of India had approved Rs 25 crore for removal of toxic waste by the German agency. After three months of contract negotiations between the Indian Government and GIZIS, the German firm has withdrawn its waste disposal offer. There was an uproar from civil society in Germany, over the toxic waste soil, contaminated with pesticide. Approximately 346 metric tons of toxic waste is lying within the premises of the erstwhile Union Carbide India Ltd, at Bhopal. There are 27 sites within India, for safe disposal of toxic waste. The waste is now likely to be treated in India.
Shining path in Peru
After being dormant for two decades, Peru’s Shining Path insurgency is now rebuilding, over disappointments on the left over President Olanta Humala’s swing to the right. Movadef, the political wing is organizing in poor neighbourhoods, for recruiting new members to the Maoist group. Movadef is pushing for the release of Shining Path’s founder, Abimael Guzman, 77, who was jailed for life in 1992 ; and radicalizing unions to undermine Humala’s free market policies. To prevent Movadef’s growth, officials in Peru have blocked it from registering as a political party. Even though most Shining Path rebels have disarmed, they have not renounced violence.
Peru’s economy is growing at 6% a year, but continues to benefit people in cities. The overall poverty rate has fallen by half, to 27%, in the last decade. Rural areas have largely been left behind, helping fuel anti-mining protests. The conflict over Newmont Mining’s $5 billion gold project in Cajamarca, left five protesters dead. Movadef is filling its ranks with young people, who never knew the violence that once swept Peru. Prosecutors view jailed Movadef rebels as unrepentant terrorists who cannot be trusted ; while Movadef considers the rebels as political prisoners, who fought to liberate the poor.
FARC rebels of colombia
The Marxist FARC guerilla movement was founded in 1964, with roots in a landless peasant movement. Soon its ideological orientation decayed into extortion, kidnapping and drug running links. FARC guerillas in Colombia have fallen to about 8000 fighters, from approximately 20,000 in the early 2000s. Most of the fighters are hiding out in mountainous and jungle areas. The Colombian authorities and the Marxist FARC rebels are holding formal peace talks on neutral ground like Oslo in Norway and Havana in Cuba. The peace process is Colombia’s first in a decade. Hopes are raised that one of the world’s longest running guerilla wars could end soon. The Colombian government has agreed not to extradite leaders of the FARC, a guerilla army partly financed by the Cocaine war. The National Liberation Army, Colombia’s second largest guerilla army is also seeking peace. The FARC had rearmed itself during the detente in 1999-2001. At present the drug funded rebels are reeling from a continued US backed Colombian army offensive, that has killed its leaders, crippled communications, and smashed morale. The conflict has caused between 50,000 and 200,000 deaths, and has displaced upto 3 million people. Cuba and its closest regional ally, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have played key roles to bring forward negotiations between FARC representatives and Colombian government interlocutors.
Frontier
Vol. 45, No. 20, Nov 25-Dec 1, 2012
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