ConflictBarometer_2015

ASIA AND OCEANIA
South China Sea in a joint statement. The Chinese government
criticized the statement.
In late May, the Philippines claimed that the PRC had challenged
its aerial reconnaissance for six times in April and
thereby had been effectively imposing an air defense zone
over the South China Sea. The Philippines announced on
July 16 the reopening of the former US naval base in Subic
Bay for its own military use. On October 29, the Permanent
Court of Arbitration announced that the case brought by the
Philippines was ''properly constituted,'' after the latter had
submitted a supplemental document to counter the PRC's
claim that the South China Sea issue would not fall under the
jurisdiction of an international body.
On May 26, ROC President Ma Ying-jeou presented the South
China Sea Peace Initiative, calling for the freedom of navigation
and overflight in the South China Sea as well as joint
exploration of resources.
Vietnam held talks with EU and US contractors on June 5 in
a bid to acquire the necessary equipment to upgrade its air
forces. In the same month, PRC moved an oil rig closer to
Vietnam's coast where the two countries' exclusive economic
zones (EEZ) overlap. However, during PRC President Xi Jinping's
visit to Vietnam in early November, both sides agreed
in a joint statement to enlarge their maritime cooperation
and to launch an inspection of waters outside the mouth of
the Beibu Gulf in December.
On June 9, a Chinese Coast Guard ship entered Malaysian
waters near Borneo. Malaysia claimed that incursions into its
territorial waters by Chinese ships had been occurring on a
daily basis since the end of 2014.
Throughout the year, the US, Japan, India, Australia, and other
external actors increased their presence in the conflict. In
March, Indonesian President Joko Widodo stated that China's
claims to the South China Sea have ''no legal foundation in
international law.'' On April 20, the Philippines began joint
military exercises with the US in the vicinity of the South
China Sea. In early June, it concluded a deal with Japan over
the delivery of ten patrol vessels. The PRC criticized the move
[→ China Japan (East China Sea)]. At the East Asia Summit,
taking place from November 21 to 22 in Kuala Lumpur, Japan
supported the Philippines' critique of the PRC, declaring that
''artificial land features'' had no legal status. On 27 October,
the US sent navy destroyer USS Lassen close to the Subi /
Zhubi and Mischief / Meiji reefs in the Spratly archipelago [→
China USA]. The PRC denounced the move as threats to its
sovereignty. Designating it as freedom of navigation operations
(FONOP), the US furthermore sent two B-52 bombers
near Chinese platforms in the Spratly Islands on November 8.
Between late November and early December, an Australian
surveillance aircraft flew over disputed waters in the South
China Sea, triggering warnings by the Chinese navy. als
INDIA (GNLA ET AL. / MEGHALAYA)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 1988
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
GNLA, ASAK, AMEF, ANVC, ANVC-B,
UALA, HNLC et al. vs. government
secession
The conflict between militant groups seeking secession of
various parts of Meghalaya state and the government continued
as a violent crisis. While the Garo militants demanded a
separate Garoland out of the five Garo Hills districts, the Khasi
militants aimed at a sovereign state in the Khasi-Jaintia hills.
Reportedly, the groups also coordinated their activities from
Bangladesh and Myanmar. Throughout the year, the armed
groups were involved in criminal activities like extortion and
increasingly carried out abductions.
On April 2, the government launched ''Operation Hillstorm
II'' in which, according to the state police, security forces
destroyed five militant camps and killed at least 17 people.
On November 2, the Meghalayan High Court prompted the
central government to introduce the Armed Forces Special
Power Act (AFSPA) in the Garo Hills. The AFSPA would grant
extensive powers and judicial amnesty to soldiers. During the
following two weeks, thousands protested against the AFSPA
in Tura, West Garo Hills, in Williamnagar, East Garo Hills,
and in the state capital Shillong. Meghalayan Chief Minister
Mukul Sangma stated that he saw no need for the AFSPA. On
December 18, Sangma offered militants to hold talks within
the next six months if they abandoned violent means.
The Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) continued to cooperate
in training their personnel with the independent faction
of the United Liberation Front of Assam [→ India (ULFA-I et
al. / Assam)]. Clashes with security forces continued over the
year, leaving several GNLA members and security personnel
dead. For instance, on March 10, GNLA militants killed four
policemen and injured two in an ambush near Rongara, South
Garo Hills. One month later, the police and GNLA clashed near
Kherapara village, West Garo Hills, after GNLA had threatened
to start bombings if the police did not stop persecuting them.
Security forces arrested one GNLA member and injured two.
On October 27, GNLA abducted a governmental official, demanding
an end of operations against militants. He was
released one week later.
Other active Garo groups were the Achik Songna Anpachakgipa
Kotok (ASAK) and Achik Matgrik Elite Force (AMEF).
On May 2, police forces killed AMEF leader Jack Marak in a
shootout in North Garo Hills. On September 24, ASAK abducted
the Bihari Intelligence Bureau officer Bikash Kumar
Singh and the trader Kamal Saha. One month later, the police
found their bodies close to Bolchugre village, South Garo
Hills.
The Garo Achik National Volunteer's Council (ANVC) and its
breakaway faction ANVC-B had officially disbanded after a
peace agreement with the government in December 2014.
However, on July 14, the chairman of ANVC-B claimed that the
police still continued operations against the group. Further,
he repeatedly demanded to issue the agreed rehabilitation
packages. Furthermore, the Garo United Achik Liberation
Army (UALA) signed a peace agreement with the state government
on December 18.
On January 7, the Khasi armed group Hynniewtrep National
Liberation Council (HNLC) stated their willingness for a political
solution and unilaterally declared a ceasefire on March 22.
However, the government rejected the offer. HNLC claimed
responsibility for an IED blast in Jhalupara, East Khasi Hills
district, on November 12. The group repeatedly conducted
strikes and road blockades regarding various political issues.
twe
INDIA (HINDUS MUSLIMS)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 1947
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
Hindus, radical Hindu organizations
vs. Muslims
subnational predominance
137