India Must Continue Efforts To Bring Conspirator Headley to Country

Finally, the US national of Pakistani origin David Coleman Headley admitted to the crime of his involvement in the conspiracy of the Mumbai attack before a Chicago-based court. Even before his admission to the crime, news reports has started emanating about it due to which the entire world had got to know that a deal was struck between him and the US Government.

According to it, if he divulges to the US Administration all information about the Mumbai strikes and other terrorist activities linked with it then he will not be awarded capital punishment. Simultaneously the United States announced its decision that Headley will not be handed over to India and Indian agencies can only interrogate him.

Activities in Pakistan
It clearly manifests that the US Administration, for special reasons, is trying to save him. Headley has been facing the charge that he acted as a double agent between the US Administration and the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiyiba. Earlier, he was once apprehended for smuggling heroin from Pakistan to the United States. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment on admission to the crime. He was subsequently set free to resume his activities in Pakistan.

The situation in respect of Headley is so complex that it is hard to readily perceive it. Yet, it has once again raised finger to the US tactics. It is intriguing to note a country leading the global war on terror is adopting double standards on terrorism.

Tackling Terrorism
The state of affairs of the US Administration by and large is such that while it feels the heat of fire when it engulfs its own house, but when some other house is set ablaze then it looks to it as if some sport is being played. The way the United States has saved a person from going to the gallows who led the conspirators of the Mumbai attack leaving more than 166 people dead and wounding hundred others and the way it exonerated him by making him confess to the crime and refusing to hand him over to India, the US Administration can be termed a major culprit.

The calculations of the US Administration to tackle terrorism are such that in order to restrain Al-Qa'ida leaders it is securing the support of Pakistan which intelligence agencies are in collusion with the terrorist organization for carrying out terrorist activities in India, but it is turning a blind eye to it. The United States will realize all this only when the heat of terrorism is once again felt by its own country in some form or the other. Even as an attempt has been made to save a dangerous conspirator like Headley, it does not realize that he can continue to be a cause of headache for itself also because seven US nationals were also killed in the Mumbai mayhem.

If it had not happened then the mindset of the US Administration would not have been confined to saving Headley and instead he would have been set free after a brief term of imprisonment. Now, if Headley is given the death sentence then the chief reason behind it would be the killing of some US nationals in the Mumbai attack.

Conspiracy Against Mumbai Attacks
In the wake of Headley's admission to the crime, the Pakistani Government also stands exposed, for until now Pakistan has been harping on its stand that the Mumbai attackers were not its nationals or the conspiracy for the Mumbai attacks was not hatched in Pakistan. It has come to the fore that Headley had been frequently visiting India with a view to survey the spots that were to be targeted by the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba. He had, in fact, taken a video footage of those locations. He has been frequenting Pakistan in order to feed intelligence inputs to Pakistan-based terrorists.

It should be clear to the Indian Government from the sequence of events that instead of depending on others to counter terrorism it should gear up on its own. It would be futile to carry out war on terror in such a way. We feel that India should not relax its endeavors on the issue of bringing Headley to the country because he is the prime accused for India, and not the United States.

Seven Groups Suspected of Involvement in Recent M79 Attacks in Thailand

Since the Thai politics entered a period of vacuum four or five years ago, there were several protests, first by the "Yellow Shirts" People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and now by the "Red-Shirted" United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD). Political moves on Ratchadamnoen Avenue have always been under the watchful eyes of security agencies. And one worrying conclusion was agreed: Many groups of people are trying to create violence in order to effect political changes.

Waging Political War
The M79 grenade launcher has become the major weapon of choice in waging this "political war." The people on the streets have heard about this weapon for a long time. But they appear to hear about it more frequently after an attack on the Daily News' office, then other attacks on the Yellow-Shirted protesters gathering to drive out "nominee governments" at the Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge and later at Government House.

When the political power was shifted from Thaksin Shinawatra's group into the hands of the Democrat Party and the young Aphisit Wetchachiwa, there were protests by Red-Shirted. That was followed by M79-related incidents at a record number never been seen before.

Even the military became a target of attacks, including the Army chief's office and the Defense Ministry. Other targets included the Public Health Ministry and the attack took place shortly after the Cabinet completed its meeting there on 23 March. The attacks took place even at a time when Bangkok is still under the Internal Security Act.

Creating Confusion
The incidents have come under watchful eyes of intelligence and security agencies which are silently working on the cases. Information involving the groups suspected of being behind the M79 attacks is being collected. There are two main groups: those who want to pass the blame on the opposite side and those who want to create confusion in the country.

The security agencies are particularly interested in seven groups of people which also have subgroups within them.

Groups Involved
The first group is led by "Sia Piak," a former hard-line taxi driver who is close to "the old power clique." He has a good knowledge about traffic routes in Bangkok. His team is small and consists of amateurs but they are daring. Investigators are convinced this group was responsible for some incidents in which the M79 was fired and grenades were thrown. This group is connected to Sawai Yangsanthia, a 42-year-old man suspected of involvement with the grenade-throwing attack on the Bangkok Bank's Silom branch on 27 February. One "gentleman's agreement" among the group's members is that they will never implicate others when arrested.

The second group is led by "Se K," a high-ranking soldier who is a close aide to a senior politician and ex-general. He even wins the respect of the "famous Se". Security sources suspect that "Se K" had tried repeatedly to incite a coup. And when the "big boss" made his political moves, violent attacks often took place. ("Se," which is short for "senathikan", refers to military officers who pass the Command and General Staff College.)

The third group belongs to the "famous Se." On many occasions, his warnings that initially appeared to be nonsense turned out to become true. Many members of this group have come under the attention of intelligence and security agencies, such as "Sergeant M," the group leader's trusted aide who often is seen going places with him. The man was charged with murder and it was found that he provided weapons for other group members to carry out attacks.

Other group members include "Sergeant R," who is the chief bodyguard and another trusted aide to the group leader, followers Daeng, Nat, Sut and Rin. There are also "Wan," who is believed by investigators to hurt a lawyer of former police chief General Seriphisut Temiyawet while going to a court, and "Sek," who is believed to be responsible for many M79 attacks. Moreover, there are many other people who agree to join the group but make their moves independently.

The fourth group is led by a "famous general." Recent reports say he has been at odds with the old power clique and his role has been shunted aside. But behind the scenes, he is still making his moves secretly, albeit not as actively as before.

The fifth is a group of hardliners led by a violence-prone former singer. This group has now got special attention from the intelligence and security agencies since they created disturbances last year. They have been suspiciously inactive over the last few days, which led to suspicion among intelligence officials that they are preparing for something.

The sixth group is led by an MP in the Northeast. It has many members but most of them are grassroots people. Although they are not viewed as posing a severe threat, the group remains under a watchful eye of the authorities.

The seventh group is loyal to the former leader. They are active in northeastern provinces and are viewed as hardliners. This group made it clear they are against the Aphisit government and they are now under a close watch by the authorities. Many of their threats of violent incidents turned out to become true.

All of the groups are now politically active. The intelligence and security authorities are merely monitoring their activities and gathering information. There has been no sufficient evidence to positively link them to any of the recent attacks.

Israeli Raids on Masjid-e Aqsa Worsen Chances of Peace in Region

The entry of the Israeli Army into Masjid-e Aqsa, and beating and baton charging those saying prayers there, confirms the apprehension expressed by the Mufti-e-Azam of Egypt that Israeli was planning to demolish Masjid-e Aqsa. He said Israel might demolish the place of worship even during the current month, and replace it with its own synagogue. He has warned that in that event, the situation in the entire region would become extremely dangerous and explosive.

New Jewish Settlements
The Israeli Army stormed into the mosque, desecrated the mosque, and beat up those saying prayers after closing the mosque's doors. This makes one realize what plans Israel is contemplating. The Israeli Army action has taken place at a time when it has to face the wrath and admonition of the United States on its announcement of constructing Jewish residential settlements in occupied Gaza areas. The United States has criticized the move, and unambiguously said that the plan would be extremely damaging to the efforts of establishment of peace in the region. It said the announcement with regard to construction of new Jewish settlements even while the US Vice President Joe Biden was visiting Israel amounts to contempt of the United States.

The attitude that the United States has now adopted toward Israel is entirely different from all its earlier stands. Yet, it would be too early to presume that the United States has developed a soft corner for Palestinians, and that it is disturbed by Israeli actions. Despite it, one thing is clear that there is some slackness in the US attitude toward Israel and that it is taking the announcement made by Israel during Joe Biden's visit more as an affront to the United States than violation of Palestinians' rights.

What, after all, does the sudden entry of the Israeli Army into the mosque and thrashing of people there, indicate under these circumstances? It is as simple as that Israel, on one pretext or the other, wants to sabotage the efforts being made for establishment of peace in the Middle East, and as apprehended by the Egyptian Mufti-e Azam, Israel wants to demolish the mosque and construct its own place of worship on that site.

Rampant Violence
The sudden storming of the Israeli army into the mosque and the rampant violence indulged in has led to an outrage among Palestinians. It has also created of waves of annoyance and anger in the entire Islamic world as well. Despite the locking of the doors of the mosque and banning entry of people to say prayer there, Al Biariq Foundation, responsible for the security of the mosque, has claimed that it has succeeded in reaching the mosque along with citizens of the holy city.

The Muslim community is also angered by Israel's announcement to construct a Jewish place of worship in the vicinity of the mosque. It feels that Israel wants to deprive the Islamic community of the Masjid-e Aqsa under a conspiracy. At present, a situation has emerged in which thousands of Palestinians have left to reach the mosque to protect it. This gives rise to an apprehension that the situation may deteriorate and become extremely tense.

Disregard International Community
There is no need to comment on the place or respect Masjid-e Aqsa commands among the Muslim populace. Not only Arabs, but also Muslims living anywhere in the world support freeing of the mosque. They all have been demanding that the mosque be rescued. Yet, at a time when pressure is mounting from the United States and European community to get the Middle East issue resolved and commencement of the process of dialogue with Palestinians, the Israeli Army's entry into the mosque is evidence that the Jewish dispensation has mustered great courage to disregard the international community.

The Israeli Army action would not only have an adverse impact on the Middle East alone, but also on the entire Islamic world. The words of Egyptian Mufti-e Azam that it would grievously hurt the feeling all those who have faith in the world of God and in the international law appears to be 100 percent correct.

The prevailing situation in the Middle East has significantly indicate that the efforts being made by the United States for establishment of peace in the region are not going to bear fruit. Instead, it may further deteriorate the situation leading to tension and confrontation.