One more armed platform formed on the Indo-Burma border ( Mizzima ) November 29, 2002

One more armed platform formed on the Indo-Burma border

Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

Guwahahti, November 29, 2002: Insurgency infested North East India is heading for a serious law and order situation as three militant groups in the region have vowed to carry forward their armed struggle in more vigorous way.

The underground groups - United National Liberation Front (UNLF), PREPAK and Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) - all allegedly operating from inside Burma, have constituted a new platform keeping aside their old enmity. The move assumes significance at a time when twelve underground outfits in the region have already formed another unified platform.

In a recent joint statement, the underground groups said that they would negotiate only the issue of independence and sovereignty. Without naming the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M) that had entered into a cease-fire agreement with the Government of India, the leaders of the militant groups said that the ongoing peace talks with the Government of India did not yield the desired result. "We have decided to step up our armed propaganda", they said.

The unity move was initiated on the occasion of the 38th foundation anniversary of the UNLF, held recently in Burma. The UNLF, operating from Burma, has played a key role in uniting the underground groups. What is more alarming is that on the occasion of the UNLF foundation day, the underground groups have decided to start military and financial cooperation among their constituents.

The decision of the underground organisations to form a united front in this regard is a major development in the North East India, and has implications for the region's stability.

The reunion of the militant groups is likely to create problems for the security forces deployed to counter the insurgency problem. Moreover, three states in North East India - Assam, Nagaland and Manipur - have witnessed a series of problems during the last several decades from the militant groups emanating from Burma. The perennial insurgency problem has also stifled the economy of the region, as the state governments have had to incur a huge sum of money for security expenses.