India-Pakistan: July 1, 2004

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The banned People's War Group (PWG), a Maoist rebel group active in northern India, has agreed to try, once more, to negotiate its differences with the government. The Maoist rebel groups have been active for decades. They are too small to threaten even local governments, but their attacks and "revolutionary taxes" (extortion rackets) cause terror in areas where the rebels are active. The revolutionary objectives (establishing a communist dictatorship to solve all social ills) always appeals to some young people, and there is never a shortage of recruits.