Indian Assam Rifles protest to Burmese Army after rebel raid

The Telegraph: 23July, 2006

Text of report by Khelen Thokchom headlined: "Attack prompts protest - Assam rifles lodges complaint with Myanmar after rebel raid" by Indian newspaper The Telegraph on 23 July

Imphal: The Assam Rifles authorities in Manipur have lodged a protest with the Myanmarese [Burmese] army after militants from the state launched an offensive on an Assam Rifles post from across the international border at Moreh in Chandel district.

The complaint was lodged at the post-level meeting, which was held at Tamu in the neighbouring country, a day after militants of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) bombarded a newly-opened Assam Rifles post with two-inch mortars and lethod bombs in the small hours of Wednesday [19 July].

There was no casualty but four civilians were wounded in the crossfire. Some houses belonging to tribals were also damaged. The UNLF owned up to the attack.

This is reportedly the first attack by militants of Manipur on security forces from across the international border in the state. Though India and Myanmar had agreed to share intelligence inputs, the Myanmarese authorities have been maintaining that no North-East militant camps are located in that country.

"The militants sneaked into the other side of the border to mount the attack. We reported the matter to the higher authorities of the Myanmarese army. The matter was also discussed at the post-level meeting which was held at Tamu the following day," a top Assam Rifles official said.

The commanding officer of the 24 Assam Rifles deployed in Chandel district, Col V Saini, met the commander of a Myanmarese army's light infantry unit in the post-level meeting. The Tamu district commissioner was also present at the meeting. The Centre [Indian federal government] is expected to take up the matter with the Myanmarese government.

"We are hoping that Myanmarese security agencies will ensure that no such activities continue in future. We did expect such an attack. Therefore, we were prepared when it came. It is because of this reason that there was no casualty on our side," the Assam Rifles official said.

The post at the border gate number 4 was opened recently following information that drugs and arms were being smuggled into Moreh from across the border. "Arms routed through Bangladesh, Myanmar and other south Asian countries are coming to Manipur through Moreh in large numbers," he said. While owning up to the attack, Ksh. Yoiheiba, "senior publicity officer" of the UNLF, said the attack was part of its armed campaign for "freedom."