KESHAV MAZUMDAR ATO
INSURGENT COUNTERINTELLIGENCE The leaders of an insurgent movement must constantly anticipate and be prepared to thwart efforts by established authority to acquire information about their organization and activities. It is known that the success of the Irish revolutionists was in direct relation to the operational achievements of their security chief, Michael Collins, who made it his job to know in advance what the British were going to do. His strategy relied on gaining direct, personal access to metropolitan police records. He was so highly skilled and successful in his strategy that he was able toget the original of a report from the police of the districts. The thoroughness with which Collins worked his intelligence system enabled the I. R. A. to know what its enemy was thinking and often what the enemy proposed to do andon what information they based their action, and the identity of their sources. This is counterintelligence activity. The importance of a sterling counterintelligence strategy is highlighted in a handbook prepared by an instructor of Castro's Sierra Maestra guerrillas, General Alberto Bayo. In his handbook, counterintelligence activity is thoroughlyassessedin the questions and answers he devised for guerrillas. In his opinion a counterintelligence agent was of greater value than 50 machineguns asan agent could work among the security forces while providing feedback on their intelligence and plans. The insurgent organization's counterintelligence and security program must be able to withstand the threats posed by established governmental authority as well as that represented by other multiple factors. The insurgent organization has many real and potential foes such as competitive dissident groups, the unilateral interests of third-country sponsors, sympathizers, and foes, and even disaffected members of its own organization. Information is vital and is the armour of the organization. It gains valuable information of those that seek to penetrate or compromise it. It must concern itself not only with an enemy's deliberate efforts but with contingencies of all kinds—some weak or careless act of an insurgent, an unannounced curfew or document check, the compromise of a courier, or a natural disaster. Public recognition is most desired by the leaders of an insurgency as they believe this would strengthen their cause and objectives. They use propaganda to promote themselves in large communities and hold public rallies. They prepare for and expect the backlash that accompanies these rallies as the urban police and security forces are usually out in their numbers and get copies of their flysheets and pamphlets. They do not hide in the shadows as they are eager to be heard and talked about in the market place. They further their “popularity� by claiming the achievements of competitive groups when these earn public approval. They turn failure to advantage if it can serve to arouse the sympathy of the people, and promoting their martyrs to the cause of freedom.