Burma Still Safe for Indian Rebels

Surajit Khaund
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

January 16, 2004

Will the Burmese Junta be able to drive the militants from north-east India out of Burmese territory? Can they move the insurgents out of remote areas where they have been firmly based for decades? These are questions with no easy answers.

At least twelve underground rebel groups from India's north-east use mountainous parts of Burma close to the border for training and organisational purposes. The insurgent groups have set up camps inside Burma and opposite to the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur. These areas are so difficult to access that it is almost impossible for the Burmese army to launch operations against them.

An Indian army official who did not wish to be named told a group of journalists yesterday that it is not possible for the Burmese army to take any offensive against the ultras that are undergoing training in the region. "These areas are covered with a chain of mountains. Moreover there is no proper road [to mount] any [military] operation”, he said. He went on to say that while the Burmese army is currently considering the situation, they are yet to carry out any operation. He stated that the Indian army has geared up vigilance along the Indo-Burma border to prevent infiltration of underground members fleeing to Burmese territory following the recent onslaught by the Royal Army of Bhutan.

Information has arrived from Moreh indicating that the Burmese Junta has already reached agreements with various Manipur based militant groups. The Junta has requested that the underground group leaders not increase their operations or move bases into other parts of Burma.

After this agreement was reached the underground groups have restricted their activities. However, it is known that the Burmese Junta did not sign any agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang (NSCN-K) faction. The Junta has demanded that these guerillas vacate their Burmese bases.

"The NSCN-K has a strong base near Kachin opposite Mon district of Nagaland. The Junta has not been successful in taking any offensive [against this base]", claimed the Moreh informant.

The leadership of several underground groups has convened a meeting near Moreh today to discuss their future strategy in the aftermath of the Burmese Junta’s most recent action.