India to demand Bhutan-type operation in Myanmar

Press Trust of India: 10 September, 2006

New Delhi:  With reports of Northeast insurgent groups operating from Myanmar, India will press for measures to flush them out like Bhutan's crackdown on the ULFA in 2003, official sources said.

New Delhi will raise its concerns with Yangon over the activities of the insurgent groups during the 12th home secretary-level talks between the two sides beginning here on September 13.

Sources in the security establishment say that there are reports on the activities of insurgent groups in Myanmar and their whereabouts and New Delhi will utilize the four-day talks to make the demand for flushing them out, besides raising issues like drug trafficking and smuggling.

They said some insurgent groups from Manipur and Nagaland were operating from Myanmar and cited the instance of the killing of some Assam Rifles personnel by insurgents a few months back.

They said New Delhi will take up the matter seriously with Yangon. Though Bhutan launched 'Operation All Clear' to flush out ULFA militants nearly three years ago, neither Bangladesh nor Myanmar has so far agreed to similar action against Indian insurgent groups.

The Northeastern states have been voicing concern over this issue, pointing out the importance of Myanmar as the gateway to East Asian countries from the strategic point of view.

Border management and fencing are among the issues expected to be discussed at the talks. They are likely to be taken up in the light of recent reports indicating the smuggling of Chinese grenades and counterfeit Indian currency through the Myanmar border.

While the Indian side will be led by Union Home Secretary V K Duggal, Deputy Minister Birg Gen Phone Swe will lead the Myanmar side.

Sources said during the last meeting, held at Yangon in October last year, issues related to security, drug trafficking, border trade, border management and proposed infrastructure projects in Myanmar were discussed.

Both sides had agreed to further strengthen cooperation in tackling the activities of insurgents, arms smugglers, drug peddlers and other hostile elements along the India-Myanmar border.

The status of various infrastructure projects in Myanmar, particularly in the road and power sectors, for which the two countries have agreed to cooperate, was reviewed at the last meeting and a follow up is expected this time.

India and Myanmar had signed an agreement for maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas in 1994, under which home secretaries of both countries are to meet once a year while joint secretaries are to hold sectoral meetings every six months. The last sectoral meeting was held in Kolkata in July last year.