RPF rejects involvement in shootout with Burmese troops

Subhaschandra M
Mizzima News: 5 September, 2006

The Revolutionary People's Front, a militant outfit operating in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur has rejected reports that the Manipur People's Liberation Front, an umbrella group of militants, was engaged in a shoot out with the Burmese Army last month.

Lily Leima, Assistant Chief of Communication and Publicity of the RPF in a statement said, "RPF is a constituent unit of the MPLF, and apart from issuing joint statements against security forces, the units of

MPLF have not been able to work together for sometime due to some reasons."

"The report that MPLF was engaged in a shoot out with the Burmese Army is wrong," Leima added. The RPF does not have any connection with the recent incident in Burma, the statement said.

According to local news reports two MPLF rebels were killed in an encounter with the Burmese troops on August 24 near Phaisat Village in Burma's Cikha Township in Chin State.

The report added that nearly 40 Meitei militants and 10 soldiers led by a Major were involved in the shoot out. However the identities of the deceased Manipur militants are yet to be confirmed.

The MPLF is an umbrella organization of four major militant outfits – the Revolutionary People's Front, United National Liberation Front, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and Kangleipak Communist Party - operating in Manipur.

The other member organisations of the MPLF have not come up with any clarification so far.