4th Generation Warfare - Need new policy to solve insurgency problem
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: May 05, 2009 -

It has been said that technology and firepower alone cannot win insurgency (4th Generation Warfare) type of war wherein enemy combatants are composed of decentralized cells capable of blending into the population at will. How, then, can it be done?

Despite arguments to the contrary, the United States has previously engaged in this type of warfare and the lessons learned from those conflicts stand ready to be incorporated into today's strategy and tactics. The hard won lessons of past small wars teach us that 4GW cannot be won solely by second and third generation tactics.

Well over five decades, India has been combating insurgencies and militancy in Manipur with extensive deployment of security forces to fight with them. To combat with, multitude of Special Forces, para-military forces are deploying and intelligence agencies have also been raised.

Police force of the state is also upgrading under the modernization of police forces with the funding of the Union ministry of home affairs. As for instant, the country is spending a huge amount of funds for their maintenance and modernization, but the desired results have been elusive.

More than 45,000 Central security forces clogged the tiny state of Manipur with only 22327 square kilometre and having a total of only 22.94 lakhs heads above more than 10,000 to keep away the insurgents which intelligence analysis count to about 10,000 cadres of 15 insurgent/militant groups of varying sizes and character.

As many as 5289 people in the insurgency related fatalities since 1992 till date.

Out of then 2067 were civilians, 922 of them were security forces and 2300 were insurgents, according the date maintained by the Union ministry of home affairs.

And as the killing spree continues, many more will fall into the jaw of death.

Then, why the efforts to combat insurgencies always fall short of the desired goals? Why can't mop up the entire situation in one deft stroke once the security forces have brought the violence level to a manageable threshold? Why is prevailing law and order situation so conducive for some to challenge the sovereignty and unity of the country? These are some questions, which deserve some deep introspection by us.

But, the question is despite so much dead, the activities of the insurgents are on the raise which has been showed by the fact that everyday there is reports of insurgency related incidents like killing, hurling of bombs, firing of guns at the houses most commonly to the houses of the government officials and employees.

When law and order is crippled and violence is raging, use of force is the only alternative left to the State. It is hoped that once the security forces have brought the situation under control, the civilian government of the day will take over and exercise all non-military means to extinguish the remnants of secession and disaffection through "good governance".

But, this end state is never achieved, and the situation either relapses into its virulent form or continues to simmer, necessitating continued deployment of the security forces. Despite a great deal of debate and lamentation, we still yearn for good governance.

So, it has been very clear that curbing or tackling insurgents is not the task of security forces alone. It has to be fought at many levels - in the government and the society.

While the leadership inspires confidence, the other organs of the establishment should voluntarily contribute with their military and non-military capabilities to create a secure environment.

Our suggestion is that only calling, appealing to come on negotiating table will not get the desire result. Instead, it is a must to find a policy other than military means to bring an end to the conflict situation of the state.