GUWAHATI, June 1 – The Government of India has offered to extend all possible help to Myanmar Government to evict the militant groups of the north-eastern region camping in the country, highly placed security sources said. Sources told The Assam Tribune that the presence of the militant groups belonging to the north-eastern States in Myanmar is causing serious concern to the overall security scenario of India, and with the improvement of relations between India and Myanmar, the Government of India has time and again requested its Myanmar counterpart to take action against the militants as was done by the Government of Bhutan.
Though the Assam Rifles (AR) has been entrusted with the job of guarding the India-Myanmar border following the recommendations of the Group of Ministers during the time of the NDA Government, it would take some time for the AR to take over the job and it would have to raise new battalions for the purpose. The Government of India is also examining the feasibility of construction of border fencing on the routes known to be frequently used by the militants. However, it would not be possible to fence the entire border because of the terrain, security sources admitted.
Despite requests by the Government of India, the Myanmar Government has not yet launched any sustained operation against the militants taking shelter in that country. From time to time, the Myanmar Army launched operations against the militants but no sustained operation has been launched. Moreover, there is hardly any presence of Myanmar authorities in the areas where the militant groups have their camps.
According to information available with the security agencies, the NSCN (K) has its main base in the Myanmar Naga hills area and the outfit has at least a thousand cadres there. Similarly, the ULFA has at least 500 cadres in its Myanmar camps and the 28th battalion of the outfit is based in Myanmar. Mentionably, the ULFA controls most of its operations in the upper Assam districts from the Myanmar bases. Several other groups including the PLA, UNLF, PREPAK etc., also have their bases in Myanmar.
Sources pointed out that these Manipur based outfits had their bases in Myanmar for years and there are some historic reasons for their closeness to the area. Sources revealed that the Kabow valley area, traditionally known as the main rice producing area in Myanmar, was ruled by Meitei kings for centuries but the British rulers leased it out to Burma and the first Prime Minister of India formally handed over the area to Burma, which the aggrieved Manipuri people and the first rebel group Red Army was formed to liberate the area in 1940s. The UNLF formed in 1964 and the PLA, formed in 1971, both established strong bases in that area and those camps have also been used as centres for procurement of weapons. Sources revealed that the arms procured in the clandestine markets of South East Asia are brought to the bases of the insurgent outfits through the Yunan province of China.