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The Star
an hour ago
- General
- The Star
Namibia strives for integration of refugees on World Refugee Day
WINDHOEK, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Namibia seeks to integrate refugees into its broader social and economic systems, a government official said Friday, as the country commemorated World Refugee Day. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security marked the day under the global theme "Solidarity with Refugees" at the Osire Refugee Settlement in the Otjozondjupa Region. Namibia currently hosts 6,582 refugees and asylum seekers, with the majority residing at the Osire Refugee Settlement, located approximately 225 km from the capital, Windhoek. "This number may vary over time due to factors such as new arrivals, voluntary repatriation, and changes in legal status," Etienne Maritz, executive director of the ministry, said in a public notice. He added that most of these individuals originate from African nations, notably the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda, with others arriving from countries like South Sudan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. "Namibia follows a welcoming and inclusive refugee policy, offering access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and employment," he said, reiterating that the nation aims to integrate refugees into its broader social and economic systems. Through the Osire Refugee Settlement, the Namibian government, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other partners, continues to provide vital support to displaced persons seeking refuge within the country, he highlighted. Observed globally on June 20, World Refugee Day honors the courage and perseverance of millions of refugees worldwide.
The Print
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
A ‘ruthless approach' is fine for terrorists. For Maoists, it must be tempered with empathy
It was a deadly blow. Basavaraju was an aggressive military commander who led some of the most audacious and daring campaigns. Earlier, in Operation Black Forest on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border during April and May, 31 Maoists were liquidated. More recently, Gautam alias Sudhakar , a central committee member, was killed in Bijapur district on 5 June. The security forces are delivering one punch after another in quick succession. The knock-out should only be a question of time. Last month, on 21 May, the CPI (Maoist) lost its top leader, Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju , in an encounter in the Abujhmad area of Narayanpur district, Chhattisgarh. Basavaraju, who had succeeded Ganapathy as general secretary in 2018, was killed along with 26 other Maoists in the engagement. The Maoist movement in India, which was at one stage described as the gravest threat to the country's internal security, is today gasping for breath. Home Minister Amit Shah plans to bury it by March 2026, and the security forces are going hammer and tongs to achieve the target. However, though the Maoist movement may be vanquished, Naxalism may not be stamped out. Also Read: Maoism became irrelevant to India's working class much before Basavaraju's death No second chance Incidents of violence by left-wing extremism have fallen sharply from 1,936 in 2010 to 374 in 2024, a dip of 81 per cent, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The total number of deaths, including civilians and security forces, has come down from 1,005 in 2010 to 150 in 2024—down by 85 per cent. The total number of districts affected by Maoist violence has shrunk from 223 in 2010 to just 38 presently. The success of the security forces' operations is to be attributed to a combination of factors: aggressive campaigns that included establishing forward operating bases in areas so far dominated by the Maoists; development marked by constructing roads, erecting mobile towers, and opening post office and bank branches; choking the supply of funds to the Maoists; and tech-driven intelligence operations using drones and satellites. Other contributing factors include raising forces like the District Reserve Guard (DRG), comprising mostly surrendered Maoists, and the Bastar Fighters, which recruited villagers from remote areas; a generous surrender and rehabilitation policy; and better inter-state and Centre-state coordination. Expectedly, certain sections are critical of the government's aggressive operations. The former chief minister of Telangana, K Chandrashekar Rao, has accused the Centre of 'massacring youth and tribals', and said that 'just because you have power, you cannot go on a killing spree'. Revanth Reddy, the present CM of the state, also purportedly said that Adivasis are being murdered. The leaders of five Left parties—the CPI, CPI (M), CPI (ML)-Liberation, RSP and AIFB—recently wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, urging the government 'to put an immediate halt to the extra-judicial killings'. The Maoists, meanwhile, have been sending desperate peace feelers. A politburo member, Abhay aka Venugopal Rao, in a letter released on 2 April, said that the Maoists would cease fire and come for peace talks if the security forces stopped setting up camps and ceased their operations. Another letter, released on 17 April in the name of Rupesh, a CPI (Maoist) spokesman in Chhattisgarh, announced that the Maoists were agreeable to ceasefire for at least a month. Yet another letter from Rupesh on 25 April appealed to the central government to stop the operations for a month, after which the Maoists would hold peace talks in a favourable environment. The Chhattisgarh government has rejected the calls for truce and dialogue. At the Home Ministry level, the thinking appears to be that in the past, whenever peace talks were held, there was no productive outcome and the Maoists, in fact, utilised the peace period to augment their strength and propagate their ideology. It is not untrue. However, one has to remember that when talks were held in Hyderabad in 2004, the extremists were negotiating from a position of strength. Today, they are in dire straits and are facing an existential crisis. The choice before them is between life and death. That being so, it would have been magnanimous on the part of the government to declare a unilateral ceasefire, give one last chance to the Maoists to come overground, hold parleys with official representatives, and join the mainstream. Even if the gesture was only partially successful, it would still avoid a lot of bloodshed. The remnants could always be taken care of by the security forces. Such an approach would have been appreciated by the people in general, and not many tears would then be shed for the intransigent hard core. A need for strategic empathy A disturbing feature of government policy is its 'ruthless approach' to the Maoist insurgency. It is fine to talk of a ruthless approach when you are dealing with terrorists. However, when you are dealing with your own people, strictness must be tempered with empathy. The majority of Maoist foot soldiers are simple tribals who joined the movement, rightly or wrongly, because they had a grievance—real or perceived. Maybe their land was taken away, maybe they were harassed by the forest officer, maybe the police were harsh with them. Marxism-Leninism meant nothing to them. Such persons deserve a chance, and it could have been given to them. Government thinking is rather simplistic: kill the Maoists and the Maoist problem will be solved. Another disconcerting feature is the fixing of a target date to finish the Maoist movement. The objective is laudable, but its achievement could have serious implications. It is fine when you fix a target date for completing a development project like building a highway, raising a dam, or setting up a factory. However, when you are dealing with an insurgency, fixing a target date may lead to some kind of competition among the police forces as to who kills more insurgents and, in the process, some elements may employ extra-judicial methods. Fortunately, there has been no serious complaint so far except general allegations, but the possibility can never be ruled out. It would have been better if the forces were asked to go all out against the insurgents and then wait for the liquidation of the Maoist movement in the normal course. There is yet another danger. The Maoists, just to demonstrate that they are still a force to reckon with, may, in sheer desperation, commit needless acts of violence. On 8 May, the Maoists killed three junior commandos of Greyhounds, an elite anti-Naxal force of Telangana, in a landmine explosion in Mulugu district near the Chhattisgarh border. In another incident, on 9 June, an Additional SP, Akash Rao, was killed and two others were injured in an IED blast in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. The government will nevertheless, in all likelihood, be able to defeat the Maoist insurgency. The strength of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army has reportedly been reduced to a meagre 300. Most of the politburo and central committee members have either been arrested or killed; the former has only four members left and the strength of the latter has shrunk to a mere 14. There was always a basic flaw in giving a Maoist orientation to the extremist movement, rather than drawing from the country's own civilisational ethos. A movement that declared, 'China's chairman is our chairman, China's path is our path', was doomed to fail in the long run.' Also Read: Born out of 'desperation', DRG is first line against Maoists in Bastar. Tech is giving them an edge Embers will remain Will the government be able to write the obituary of left-wing extremism in the country? Its record in reducing extreme poverty has been commendable. World Bank data shows it declined from 27.1 per cent in 2011-12 to 5.3 per cent in 2022-23, implying that the number of people living in extreme poverty fell from 344.47 million to 75.24 million. Unequal distribution of wealth, however, continues to be a problem. The World Inequality Database shows income inequality rising from a Gini coefficient of 52 in 2004 to 62 in 2023 (a higher Gini coefficient indicates greater inequality, while a lower value suggests a more equal distribution). It is also significant that, as areas affected by Maoist violence are being cleared by the security forces, industries are moving in to exploit the virgin forests. In Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, for example, the government has given environmental clearance to Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd. to more than double iron ore output at its Surjagarh mine. Deforestation, which results in the displacement of tribals and contributes to their alienation, continues unabated. India lost 17,700 hectares of primary forest in 2023 and another 18,200 hectares in 2024. There is a genuine apprehension that Mao-vadis may gradually be replaced by MOU-vadis. It would seem that while the security forces are doing the job assigned to them, there is no corresponding attempt to address some of the pressing socio-economic issues that contributed to the emergence and countrywide spread of the Naxal problem. That being so, it seems that while the fire would be extinguished, the embers would remain. The CPI (Maoist) politburo may be decimated, its central committee may be disintegrated, the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army may be vanquished, the party cadres may all be killed, but the idea of Naxalbari would, in all probability, survive—to the extent it represented a protest of the poorer, deprived, and marginalised sections of society against political insensitivity, social discrimination, and economic exploitation. The writer, a former Police Chief, is author of The Naxalite Movement in India. Views are personal. (Edited by Asavari Singh)
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Amarnath route to be no-fly zone
SRINAGAR: In order to ensure foolproof security arrangements for forthcoming 38-days Amarnath Yatra, Jammu and Kashmir government has declared twin pilgrimage routes a 'No Flying Zone' from July 1, two days before commencement of the yatra. The Amarnath yatra has two routes – traditional Pahalgam route from south Kashmir and shortest Baltal route from central Kashmir. 'The Ministry of Home Affairs had advised that the entire route may be declared as 'No flying zone' w.e.f July 1 to August 10. With a view to ensure strengthened security, all the routes of yatra are hereby declared as 'No Flying Zone' including both Pahalgam axis and Baltal axis,' reads an order of J&K Home Department issued by Principal Secretary Home Chandraker Bharti. The flying of any kind of aviation platforms and devices including UAVs, drones, balloons, etc has been prohibited on the twin yatra routes from July 1 to August 10. The annual Amarnath yatra will start on July 3 and conclude on August 9 coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. However, the restrictions shall not apply to cases of medical evacuation, disaster management, or surveillance operations conducted by security forces.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Exclusive: Ahead of Modi's G7 visit, India had collated info on 8 Canada-based gangsters, Khalistani Terrorists for talks with Ottawa
In the run-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Canada for the G7 summit, the Ministry of Home Affairs had directed Central security agencies to compile and share intelligence on eight Canada-based fugitive gangsters and terrorists—including designated Khalistani terrorists Arshdeep Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla and Lakhbir Singh 'Landa'. The information was expected to be handed over to Canadian authorities on the sidelines of the visit, it is learnt. As reported by The Indian Express Tuesday, Delhi and Ottawa are engaged in hectic negotiations to create a joint working group to deal with transnational crimes. The negotiations are aimed at rebuilding bilateral ties while insulating them from the Canadian judicial process on the 2023 killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Sources said the consultative mechanism will be the first step towards assuaging concerns on both sides. While Canada will have a mechanism to discuss issues related to the judicial process, India can bring up Khalistan separatism and extremism-related concerns. Ties between India and Canada were severely hit after September 2023, when then PM Justin Trudeau raised suspicion about the Indian government's 'potential' involvement in the killing of Canada-based Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the two countries expelled each other's diplomats. It took a turn for the worse after Canada's Foreign Interference Commission identified India as the 'second most active country' interfering in its electoral affairs. India has denied these allegations, terming them as 'absurd' and 'motivated'. 'Apart from Landa and Arsh, the list includes Lipin Nehra, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang; Rahul alias Harry Kailash Ritoli and Lakshya Gudhan, close associates of Himanshu Bhau; and Lucky Patial of Chandigarh, who took over the Davinder Bambiha gang after latter's encounter in 2016. Currently operating from Canada, Lucky controls nearly 400 shooters across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh. He is a rival of the Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar gangs and carries a bounty of Rs 5 lakh,' a source said. While Central agencies already had a list of criminals operating from abroad, a fresh list was sought specifically of criminals based in Canada and their case status, sources said. 'Following the MHA's directions, the list of eight criminals, along with their criminal dossiers and efforts made by the Indian agencies to bring them back, was prepared,' said a source. The list also includes Bambiha gang's associate: Zahar Singh alias Prince Chauhan, whose extortion module is active in Punjab; Gurjant Singh alias Bholu, who belongs to Havelian village in Punjab's Tarn Taran district and is a key figure in a global drug syndicate. He is reported to have ties with other prominent criminals, including Amritpal Singh alias Baath, and Shehnaz Singh alias Shawn Bhinder, an international drug lord. 'Bholu's activities primarily revolve around smuggling of heroin and other narcotics from Pakistan and Afghanistan into India, as well as facilitating the distribution of cocaine from Colombia to the US and Canada,' a source said. India's Central investigation agencies, who approached the Royal Canadian Mounted police to discuss Dalla's arrest, found that Dalla's ankle bracelet put on him after he was granted bail in December was removed after he deposited a fine of 30,000 Canadian dollars. Significantly, it was the first time that one of India's Central investigation agencies approached the Royal Canadian Mounted police to discuss Dalla's arrest, and came amid India's push for his extradition. Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"States should focus on low-cost but high-impact interventions to mitigate disaster risks": Principal Secretary to PM
New Delhi [India], June 17 (ANI): The two-day Annual Conference of Relief Commissioners and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) of States and UTs-2025, organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), concluded in New Delhi today. PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, chaired the valedictory session, Ministry of Home Affairs said in an official statement. Speaking on the occasion, P K Mishra said that this annual conference is more than a routine--it's a shared opportunity to reflect, recalibrate, and reinforce our collective approach to disaster risk management. Observing that the nature of disasters is changing, he said that we must accept this reality i.e. hazards are interconnected, impacts are multiplying, and risks are evolving faster than we are adapting. P K Mishra highlighted the actions to be focused in the days to come, which will strengthen our position in a long run: Preparedness and awareness is crucial for tackling increasing uncertainty on disaster occurrence. The hazard and vulnerability landscape are changing and so should enhance the preparedness level of the states and for better transition from relief and response approach to preparedness and mitigation approach, states need to institutionalise the lessons learnt. This is essential, so that insights from the past disasters are not forgotten. He emphasised that while India's DRR financing model has been acknowledged at the Global Platform on DRR held in Geneva on 4-6 June, States should ensure for proper utilisation of recovery and mitigation funds. He added the need to highlight India's vast geography, which mandates that besides a robust national disaster response force, states should assess and invest in capacity augmentation of agencies involved in the disaster relief operations, as per the ministry. Disaster preparedness is not a matter of hours but is a matter of minutes, as every minute taken in mobilisation and starting relief operation counts. Thus, the speed of response should be improved. There is still a lot to be done on the early warning from for certain disasters, PK Mishra highlighed, according to the release. He also emphasised, 'Potential of loss in certain disasters is found to be more than estimated. For example, drought has the potential to severely affect lives and livelihood. These days lightning is coming forth as one of the largest-fatality disasters. Hence, our mitigation efforts should be re-calibrated to tackle these kind of disasters.' 'States should focus on low cost but high impact interventions to mitigate disaster risks. Urban flooding solutions need to keep in mind the local geographical and climatic conditions,' he emphasised. He pressed on Volunteer mobilisation like involvement of community through Aapda Mitra is very important for enhancing the effectiveness of disaster response, adding that states should realise the role Jan-Bhagidari can play in saving lives in the aftermath of disasters. Highlighting the importance of data in disaster management, he urged the use of PM's Gati Shakti layers in making DM Plans, according to the release. The two-day conference was attended by over 1000 delegates from State Governments/ UTs, Ministries/ Departments/ Organizations of Central Government and from SDRFs/Civil Defence/ Home Guards/Fire Services in the States/UTs. During the conference, various sessions were organized and the experts dwelled upon the subjects like Early Warning, Post Disaster Need Assessment, Urban floods management, new challenges and adoption of new technologies, Role of Disaster Response Forces, Mock exercises, volunteerism, etc. the release added. (ANI)
