TODAY -
Delhi talks tough to Yangon; post Moreh incidents
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 25: Taking a serious note of the series of unsavoury incidents that occurred at Moreh a few days before and after June 9 this year, the Indian Army has categorically asked its Myanmarese counter part to pull up its socks and not allow such incidents to be carried out 'from across the border'.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, a well placed source said that Delhi has categorically told Yangon that it would be held responsible if such ugly incidents occur in the future.

The basic objective of the tough talk adopted by Delhi is to convey the message that it wants the neighbouring country not to offer shelter to any of the militant groups active in the North East region of India, added the source.

India had earlier asked Myanmar to clear the camps of the North East militant groups and reports had come in that efforts were on to identify the exact location of the camps so that operations could be launched.

At least 11 persons were killed on June 9 this year triggering a fear psychosis amongst the people of Moreh.

A good number of people at the border town also deserted their homesteads and took refuge at Myanmar in the days that followed the June 9 killings.

Charges and counter charges between the proscribed UNLF and KNO/KNA followed the Moreh killings with each accusing the other of triggering the spate of killings.

Normalcy returned to the border town days later.

On the other hand with the larger objective of boosting the border trade and in the backdrop of the proposed Trans-Asian Highways and Trans-Asian Railways as part of the Look East Policy of the Government of India, Delhi has decided to train Myanmarese Army on Indian soil.

The training is likely to start from next month, said the source further.

The decision of Delhi to train Myanmarese Army on Indian soil has already been intimated to Yangon, said the source.

This comes close on the heels of the efforts taken up by the Government of India to persuade the neighbouring country to allow it to open a training centre to impart military training to Myanmarese Army by 'Team India' at Mandalay.

With a view to improve bilateral ties and strengthen diplomatic relations, India has also decided to gift one Russia made chopper (AL-72) to the Myanmarese authority.

This is in addition to four Indian choppers to be given.

The four Indian choppers were developed by the Hindustan Aeronauticals Limited.

To help the Myanmarese Army, the Government of India had also last year supplied a huge consignments of artillery guns as one time grant.

The shipments of arms made their way through the border at Moreh.

The relationship between the Government of India and the military junta of Myanmar has been a tenuous one and only recently, the Myanmarese army had tacitly implied that the Indian security forces were behind the bomb blast at Namphalong where one person was killed.

Significantly, the Assam Rifles at Moreh have been accused by many of offering a safe haven to the cadres of the Kuki National Army, which is banned in Myanmar.

Despite this, efforts have been taken up in the recent past to improve bilateral ties and boost trade and commerce across the border.

Some time back, the Indo-Myanmar car rally was staged from Delhi to Yangon.

Apart from the need to strengthen diplomatic ties, the recent initiatives taken up by both countries are seen as measures to check drug trafficking as well as to check arms smuggling.





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