Source: Oken Jeet Sandham (NEPS) *
Guwahati, April 25 2010:
Indian Army indicate that there were approximately 40 to 50 camps of the Northeast-based militant groups in Myanmar.
He revealed that, out of these camps, 25 to 30 were identified as bigger camps or of established nature.
Another source also said Arunachal Pradesh became a steady corridor for procurement of arms by Northeast militants from neighboring China.
Sources further disclosed that a major modernization drive in the Chinese Army has released vast quantities of old weapons, some of which are being offloaded to arms dealers, to reach militant groups.
Weapons, including AK series rifles, MI 15 rifles, LMGs and ammunition, discarded by the Chinese Army, are still good enough for militant.
The Central intelligence confirms that there are frequent visits by Northeast Indian militant leaders to China.
The ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua had been traced to Ruili in the Yunan Province of China, bordering Myanmar.
Army sources indicate, "Most of the arms deals are struck at Ruili and from there the Chinese arms are brought to Bamo in Myanmar, from where they are routed to different places.
ULFA and other militant outfits of the northeast also bring their arms and ammunition through this route.
Since the Myanmar junta and (Myanmarese) rebel groups are in ceasefire, the Indian insurgent outfits like NSCN-K, ULFA, and Meitei groups of Manipur have found safe haven in the areas under control of the Kachin Independent Army and United Wa State Army rebels (in Myanmar) groups.
Meanwhile, Tirap and Changalang, on one side, and Lohit, Upper and Lower Dibang Valleys, on the other, across the Arunachal Pradesh corridor, remain the principal transit routes for the ULFA for transfer of men and material from both Myanmar and China.
As per the Home Ministry sources, there had been militant activities of the KIA in Arunachal Pradesh's Tirap, Changlang and Lohit districts bordering Myanmar.
The report further revealed that the NSCN (K) also had maintained fraternal alliances with UNLF of Manipur and the KIA in Myanmar during the course of operation in the Arunachal territory.
Newly recruited NSCN-K cadres used to undergo training under the guidance of the KIA in the Sagaing region of Myanmar.
"NSCN-K has turned to the Kachin Independent Army for logistic help to build their bases in the districts of Arunachal Pradesh � Tirap, Changlang Lohit.
And heavily armed KIA fighters have already entered into these three districts along the Indo-Myanmar border," Arunachal Pradesh senior Police official said.
The NSCN-IM has a similar operational understanding with the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-R) in Assam for logistics such as training, movement and arms procurement from Myanmar, via Arunachal Pradesh new corridor.
Meanwhile, a special operation of Dibrugarh police have recently conducted a search at Dibrugarh Medical College hostel and arrested a Myanmar rebel cadre belonging to Kachin Independent Army (KIA) .
According to sources available from the College's Hostel No-23, the youth was identified as Sengli Singpho.
Talking to Dibrugarh Police Superintendent Mr.Abhijit Bora, he said the arrested cadre was alleged to be a cadre of KIA.
* The sender of this news can be contacted at nepsonline(at)yahoo(dot)com .