NAMUNC VI
UN General Assembly:
[COMMITTEE]
The Mumbai Crisis
The Mumbai Crisis
Mumbai is the capital of the Indian state
Maharashtra.
The city has approximately fourteen million people, and along with
neighboring suburbs, has nineteen million people, making it the world’s
fourth largest urban area. Mumbai, a major port, also handles over half of
India’s sea cargo.
Since India has gained independence from the British,
there have been many conflicts over the state that many states and cities of
India should be left in. The area around Bombay, present day Mumbai, is one
such region. On May 1st, 1960 Bombay became the capital of the
newly formed state Maharashtra.
In December 1992 and January 1993, over two thousand
people were killed in riots between Hindus and Muslims following the
destruction of the Babri- Masjid, a 16th century mosque. On
December sixth the mosque was destroyed by Hindu nationalists during a
planned ceremony, despite a promise to the Indian government that the mosque
would not be damaged. In 1995, Bombay was renamed to Mumbai.
Last year, a series of violent clashes began between
members of two political parties, the
Maharashtra Navnirman
Sena (MNS) and
Samajwadi Party
(SP), at Dadar in Mumbai, a major railroad center. The violence was
triggered when workers of MNS, a splinter of Shiv Sena, a major political
party, attacked workers of SP, a local party, who were on their way to
rally. MNS justified the attacks by stating that the SP were exhibiting in
a provocative show of strength and were politically bullying migrants.
In response to the attacks, the state government
arrested Raj Thackeray (a leader of MNS) and
Abu Asim Azmi
(a local SP leader) on charges of disturbing the community. Around India
there were incidences of violence, especially by MNS members (south-western
India) against SP workers (Northern India). Nearly 40 thousand total North
Indians fled from India, creating many problems within local industries and
economies.
Most recently, between November 26th 2008
and November 29th 2008, ten coordinated shooting and bombing
attacks killed at least 173 people. Eight of the attacks occurred in
South Mumbai:
at
Chhatrapati Shivaji
Terminus, the
Oberoi Trident,[6]
the
Taj Mahal Palace &
Tower,[6]
Leopold Cafe,[6]
Cama Hospital,[6]
the
Orthodox Jewish-owned
Nariman House,[7]
the
Metro Cinema,[8]
and a lane behind the Times of India building and
St. Xavier's College.[6]
There was also an explosion at the
Mazagaon
docks, in Mumbai's port area, and in a taxi at
Vile Parle.
Indian authorities have attributed the attacks to
Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant group inside Pakistan. While Pakistan
originally denied this accusation, it agreed that it was the case on January
seventh, 2009. Evidence, found by the Indian government, shows detailed
sequences of training, supplying, and communication between the attackers
and people within Pakistan. The Indian government also accused Pakistan of
financing the operation, as the terrorists were so well funded. In February
2009, Pakistani media sources claimed that the attacks were planned in
Bangladesh and refined in India, with support being given by Indian militant
groups. However, since then Pakistan’s Interior Minister,
Rehman Malik,
confirmed that some of the conspiracy did originate in Pakistan.
Out of the ten attackers, nine were killed and one was
captured alive and is currently in custody. Information found since the
attacks shows that the militants traveled across the Arabian Sea from
Karachi, Pakistan, arriving in Mumbai. They had planned the attacks several
months in advance. There is also suspicion that the the group received
information from internal Mumbai sources. Out of the 173 civilian and
security personnel killed there were 28 foreigners from ten countries.
Since the attacks the Indian government has purchased
36 speed boats and several helicopters to patrol the coasts. India is also
planning to create an anti-terror force called “Force One” and planning to
upgrade all weapons that Mumbai police have. India also has declared that
India may attack any military camps within Pakistan to maintain its internal
safety.
Some
Useful Sources to Begin Your Research:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20090212/wl_mcclatchy/3166601
http://www.mumbainet.com/template1.php?CID=15&SCID=5
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7908496.stm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/3539171/Mumbai-attacks-Jews-tortured-before-executed-during-hostage-crisis.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/world/asia/13pstan.html
http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-96551.html
http://www.pakspectator.com/lasting-solution-of-india-pakistan-tension/
http://vajrapani.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/12/what-if-pakistan-falls-into-the-hands-of-jihadis.htm
