Shwe Mann in New Delhi

Mizzima News: 05 December, 2006

Burmese General Thura Shwe Mann of the military junta arrived in India today and attended the inauguration ceremony of the India-Burma car rally.

The rally from Delhi to Rangoon was flagged off by the Indian Defence Minister Mr. A K Antony which was attended by India's Chief of Army Staff, General J J Singh and Burmese Chief of General Staff, General Thura Shwe Mann.

"This rally signifies closer Indo-Myanmar cooperation especially in Defence," said Antony in a government press release.

The 14 teams including three from Burma are contesting in the rally which will cover a distance of more than 8,000 kilometres and traverse rugged mountains, dense forests and numerous rivers.

The rally will pass through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur and enter Burma at Moreh. In Burma, the rallyists will transit through Tamu, Mandalay, Taungoo and finally reach Rangoon.

Burma watchers believe that the reason behind Shwe Mann's visit to New Delhi is to buy more arms and to discuss the flushing out of North-east Indian rebels holed up in Burma.

There is speculation that the two countries recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding supply of Indian arms to Burma in exchange for Burma's cooperation in flushing out Indian rebels.

It has also been agreed that India would be imparting training to the Burmese Army and other officials and to set up an army training team in Burma.

The visit of Burma's third most powerful man to India comes in the wake of the Indian Air Force Chief's visit to Rangoon when Chinese President Hu Jinto's came to India.