'Myanmar not interested to take action against NE ultras'
No strong response forthcoming : Sambhu Singh
Source: The Sangai Express / Courtesy: The Sentinel

New Delhi, November 10 2013: New Delhi has said that Myanmar is not at all interested to take action against the northeastern militants based in that country.

"We have approached them several times but we did not get any strong response from Myanmar," said Joint Secretary in the Union Homer Ministry Sambhu Singh in Delhi.

The statement is first such open declaration made by New Delhi about the present status of any possible military operation against northeast-based militants in the neighbouring country.

Several northeastern militant organizations, including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB�S), the NSCN and several Manipur�based militant organisations have their camps in the dense jungle of the Kachin region in northern Myanmar.

A graphic map showing Indo-Myanmar boundary in the territory of Manipur : Pix - TSE

The Kachin autonomous region is literally ruled by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).

Although the KIA and the Myanmarese junta had a ceasefire in 1994 to end the conflict, the KIA has not disarmed nor surrendered.

In fact, the KIA is still providing shelter and even training to the northeast�based militant outfits.

"In the Kachin autonomous region of Myanmar, lots of insurgent groups from the northeastern States have taken shelter.

The Myanmarese authorities don't want Nepal like mutiny in their country, that is why Myanmar is not taking action against the northeast militants," said Singh.

His statement assumes significance as on several earlier occasions Myanmar had assured New Delhi of taking military action against the northeast�based militant outfits in Myanmar.

The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) had dethroned the government in Nepal years back to rule the country following a massive demonstration and civil war.

"It is tough for the government in Myanmar to go all out against the rebel groups, especially the KIA," said Subhas Ghosh, an expert in foreign affairs.

Three States in northeast including Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland share a 1,643�km border with Myanmar.