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10/20/2009: "Junta allows Indian rebels to set up base: GOC Indian Army by Mungpi Mizzima"



Junta allows Indian rebels to set up base: GOC Indian Army by Mungpi Mizzima

New Delhi (Mizzima) – A senior Indian Army officer has been quoted by the Indian media as saying that north-eastern rebels are setting up base camps in Burmese territory, some of them with the sanction of local authorities.

Lt Gen NK Singh, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 3rd Corps based in Rangapahar Military Station in Nagaland in Northeast India on Thursday said Indian rebels have different kinds of camps - transit camps, permanent camps and training camps in neighbouring Burma.

NK Singh, during a press interaction, told journalists that some of the rebel groups’ camps have been set up with permission of the local authorities, according to the Manipur-based Hueiyen News Service.

The GOC, however, said the Indian Army has brought the issue to the notice of various levels of the Burmese authorities and that they have been very “supportive and cooperative.”

India and Burma have maintained military-to-military relations aimed at increasing cooperation between the two armies in dealing with issues including border security, drug and insurgency. The 37th biannual meeting was held in Kalemyo of Sagaing division of Northwest Burma in late August.

Sources along the border said, Indian rebel groups including the United National Liberated Front (UNLF), have long set up base in several areas in Western Sagaing division and Chin State. Both are contiguous to Indian states of Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.

Several high-ranking members of the insurgent groups are also into business ventures including gun running and drug smuggling, in a nexus with local Burmese officials, the source said.

Sources said, though Indian rebels have long been based in Burma, their presence and freedom in renting houses and running business enterprises was further exposed by an incident in December 2008, where a Manipuri rebel was killed in his rented house in the border town of Kalemyo in northwest Sagaing division.

Sources, who request anonymity, in the area told Mizzima that the man was shot dead by a fellow Manipuri, who was also believed to be a member of a rebel group.

India, at various levels of their meeting with Burmese officials, had repeatedly sought cooperation in flushing out northeast rebels from the neighbouring soil.

The GOC, during the press interaction, did not rule out launching a major operation with the cooperation of the Burmese authorities to flush out the rebels of the northeast in Burma.
Illegal gun factory unearthed in Nagaland STAFF WRITER PTI
Kohima,) The police have unearthed an illegal gun manufacturing factory at Dimapur and arrested a person in this connection.

Additional Superintendent of Police of Dimapur, V Z Angami, said the unit at Eros Lane of the commercial town was busted yesterday and a youth from Hojai in Assam arrested while his accomplices managed to flee.

Five country made 9 mm pistols, magazines, one modified .303 rifle, four AK series ammunition, two US carbine ammunition and various tools used for gun making were seized from the factory.

The country-made guns were sold for Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 each, the SP said, adding many extortionists and abductors were recently found to be using these firearms.
Shun difference to solve Naga issue: Rio The Imphal Free Press

Kohima, Oct. 18 : Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio has urged upon everyone to be a part of the Naga political solution while expressing that the different opinions has to be properly discussed and also give up the madness of division for the sake of Nagas.

Addressing the 16th General Conference of the Chakhesang Gazetted Officers` Forum at Zonal Council Hall, Kohima yesterday as the chief guest, Rio while regretting that Nagas are thoroughly divided by isms, parties and ranges called upon all to rise above and be leaders of the Nagas.

He underscored the need for both overground and underground leaders to come together while maintaining that officers are the most important and influential people and if they effectively serve for the integrity of Naga people, greater heights can be achieved.

Pointing that the need of the hour and desire of the Naga people is Unity and Reconciliation, he said Nagas have to come above their differences and become leaders in order to find a permanent solution and bring peace. He said that over the years many ceasefire agreements have failed and Nagas have landed in the present situation where one thousand five Nagas were killed during the period where no Indian soldier was killed.

At this juncture, he said it is not just the politicians but the bureaucrats, the public leaders who have to put their heads together and find a solution. The Chief Minister felt that in this process of unity and reconciliation and bringing solution, everyone has to play a part.

Meanwhile, exhorting the Chakhesang officers, Rio expressed that the Chakhesang community is one of the most progressive tribe while pointing out that "in many ways they are more committed than others. He said that it is the duty of the officers and public leaders in various capacities to divert the trend of laziness and honesty.

IGAR (N) assures Governor of maintaining peace in the state morungexpress


Maj Gen J P Nehra, AVSM, IGAR (N), Nirmala Nehra, Shyama Singh along with the Governor of Nagaland Nikhil Kumar during an interaction session at Raj Bhavan, Kohima.
Kohima, October 19 (MExN): Maj Gen JP Nehra, AVSM, IGAR (N) has assured the Governor of Nagaland, Nikhil Kumar in an interaction session at Raj Bhavan, Kohima today to continuously support and extend full cooperation of security forces to the civil administration in maintaining peace and order within the state.
The General officer during his interaction discussed about the prevailing security situation in the state, the operational preparedness of AR and other SF detachments and multifaceted operations being adopted to ensure peace and security in Nagaland stated a press release received here. It also added that the during the interaction the Governor was also appraised of the various development measures being undertaken by the AR and Army in Nagaland in form of Military Civic Action in the rural belt to maintain a close interface with the local populace at all times. Meanwhile, it also mentioned that accompanying the General officer his lady wife, Nirmala Nehra interacted with the first lady and besides “exchanging customary greetings appraised her of the multi dynamic efforts being pursued at various levels within the force for improvement of quality of life of troops and families”.
The note also informed that the Governor is scheduled to visit the Kohima War Cemetery tomorrow, where an official wreath laying ceremony in respect to the “War Heroes” will be organised by the AR.
Letter reveals Ulfa-LTTE arms link OUR BUREAU The Telegraph
Guwahati/Dibrugarh, Oct. 19: Security forces today stumbled upon “hard evidence” of Ulfa purchasing arms from the LTTE.
The army recovered a letter, written in Assamese, from Amarpur reserve forest in Sadiya this morning, mentioning that the outfit had paid a huge amount of money to the LTTE very recently to purchase arms.
“The money was probably paid just before the downfall of the LTTE,” a senior army officer told The Telegraph.
Although there were unconfirmed reports earlier about Ulfa’s links with the LTTE, the letter was the first hard evidence of the links.
The letter was found along with arms, including 35kg of RDX, an AK-56 rifle, a grenade launcher, four pen pistols, a carbine machine gun, two 9mm pistols, detonators and a huge quantity of ammunition of assorted weapons.
The consignments were kept buried under the ground at two places — Amarpur Borbora village and Deopani reserve forest. Both the areas are located along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.
The army officer said the letter mentioned that Ulfa had paid several crores to the LTTE for purchasing arms.
“Probably a few arms recovered today were actually purchased from the LTTE,” the officer said.
Former Assam Police director general G.M. Srivastava had said there were reports of Ulfa having links with the LTTE and these links started after Ulfa purchased a few trawlers operating from Chittagong to Cambodia.
Although the security forces have been claiming that Ulfa had links with the LTTE, there was no concrete evidence to prove such a development.
Even Ulfa cadres who came overground had not revealed anything about such a link.
Prabal Neog, a leader of the pro-talks group of Ulfa had had said earlier that the pro-peace group had no idea about the outfit’s links with the LTTE.
He, however, said that a few “Tamil persons” did visit the Lakhipathar camp of Ulfa in the early nineties.
“I was on guard duty at the camp in those days when I saw three Tamil gentlemen coming to our camp with Paresh Barua. Later, I was told by one of my colleagues that they were LTTE cadres,” Neog said.
Neog, who rose to the post of commander of the lethal 28 battalion of the Ulfa, was apprehended a couple of years back.
A police official in Tinsukia district said the areas from where the consignments were recovered were encroached upon by the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
“Although these areas belong to Assam, the areas are actually under the occupation of Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.
The police official said that there was no doubt that these consignments were kept by the 28 battalion of Ulfa.
“We managed to get the arms and ammunition after an extensive search of the Amarpur and Deopani reserve forests which is divided by the turbulent Dibang river. Deep search metal detectors and various other gadgets were used during the combing operation and all the arms were found buried in ditches, around one to two feet in depth,” Col. A.K. Misra, the commanding officer of the 19 Kumaon Regiment, said.
“The arms and ammunition were hidden in such a way that cadres can hurriedly take them out and use them whenever they plan any offensive,” Col. Misra added.
Today’s arms haul from the Amarpur area is the third such recovery in recent times from Upper Assam. A few months back, a huge consignment was recovered from the same area. “These areas are inaccessible and militants use them to keep arms and ammunition,” the officer added.
Heartrending tales of Oct. 30 soaked in tears - Book based on serial blasts to be released this month; proceeds to go to education of victims’ children DAULAT RAHMAN The Telegraph


File picture of an October 30 blast site
Guwahati, Oct. 19: A cell phone rings under a heap of unrecognisably charred bodies. A quivering hand reaches out and overturns a mass of burnt flesh hiding that familiar ringtone.
Tales of unbearable tragedy likes these, some smelling of saline tears and others of inspiring spirit, but all revolving around the October 30 blasts, have been compiled in a book and will be released on the first anniversary of the black day later this month.
Altogether 25 writers — both established and new — have written as many short stories recounting the impact of the devastating explosions that killed nearly 100 people and injured 1,000 others last year.
Trish Octabarar Galpa will be released by noted freedom fighters and relatives of the blast victims.
The sale proceeds will go towards helping children of blast victims complete their education till matriculation.
Writer-filmmaker Rajib Hari Kaushik, who has edited the book, said the compilation not only depicts the tragedy but also the post-blast challenges.
“The stories also try to highlight the importance of remaining vigilant physically and mentally to prevent a re-run of the October 30 blasts in future,” he said.
“More than 200 imaginary characters have been created through stories to depict lives in the pre and post blast scenario. The book starts with the story titled Egharo Bozat Ganeshgurit (At Ganeshguri, at 11am) where the dream of a couple to enter their newly built house on October 31 was shattered after they were killed in the blast while shopping at Ganeshguri. The last story, titled Samidhan, revolves around a girl who lost her father in the blast and is now preparing herself to ask three questions to the culprits of the serial blasts,” Kaushik said.
Bhringeswar Sarma, an ENT specialist and an author based in Margherita who has written the story Egharo Bozat Ganeshgurit, said his tale was based on a couple working with Indian Oil Corporation who died while at Ganeshguri for a puja, before moving into a new house.
There is also a very touching story as how mobile phone ringtones helped relatives identify their dear ones who lost their lives in the explosion.
“Faces of many victims were beyond recognition. Relatives in the story identify the body by calling the blast victims on their cellphones,” he said.
NE MPs protest China move on Brahmaputra Spl Correspondent Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Oct 19 – Faced with protest from North Eastern States, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today conveyed to the Arunachal Pradesh Government that India is tackling the issue bilaterally through diplomatic channel. A high-powered delegation led by Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Dorjee Khandu and comprising MPs and few MLAs including newly elected (unopposed) MLA of Tawang called on the Prime Minister to discuss the issue. Waiting in the wings was Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who will meet the Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna tomorrow.

Gogoi told this newspaper that he is going to suggest the Prime Minister to constitute an expert committee to look after this issue.

These meetings come ahead of the Prime Minister’s meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Thailand this weekend, on the sidelines of the 15th ASEAN meeting.

The most significant development was the meeting between the official delegation of Arunachal Pradesh and the Prime Minister that lasted for about an hour. The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh submitted a charter of demands containing four points and most of it were about developments concerning China.

On China’s claim on Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister told newsmen that the people of the State has answered through ballot that the State is not part of China. He further disclosed that they have lodged strong protest over the bid to divert the Tsangpo river.

Talking to this newspaper, Lok Sabha MP, Takam Sanjay, who was also part of the delegation said that the Prime Minister assured that New Delhi is closely monitoring the situation. “The Prime Minister said that the Centre was equally concerned and is tackling the matter through diplomatic route, bilaterally,” the MP said.

“The Government of India is handling the matter and we should not worry,” Takam Sanjay quoted the Prime Minister as having assured.

Meanwhile, the delegation that also included president of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Nabam Tuki expressed its concern at China’s bid to dam the Tsango river. The delegation conveyed that India should lodge a strong protest to build a dam at the source of the River (Brahmaputra) in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).

“We expressed our strong opposition to divert the Tasango river in TAR by China,” said Takam Sanjay.

Arunachal Pradesh Government has all but pressed the panic alarm following confirmation of reports that China has cleared the decks to construct at least five dams on Yarlo Tsangpo river in TAR, as the move is bound to have serious implications on its own plan to dam the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries.

The State Government had lined up investments running over thousand crore of rupees in the hydroelectric dams. The government-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) alone is set to invest over Rs 20,000 crore in the State.

The ruling Party of Arunachal Pradesh, meanwhile, urged the Prime Minister to order rising of Arunachal Scouts in the State in the wake of reports of frequent intrusions by China.

The Arunachal Scouts comprising locals with knowledge of local topography could supplement the army in its efforts, said the Lok Sabha MP.

The Arunchal Pradesh Government further urged the Prime Minister to sanction a road along the entire stretch of the international border with TAR. This is over and above the Rs 24,000 crore package announced by the Prime Minister.

As reported earlier, India has conveyed to China over last three years that such a project may have significant impact on the socio-economic condition of people living downstream.

“The Indian side has taken up with the Chinese side reports about the construction of a large-scale dam or diversion project in the Brahmaputra,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Vishnu Prakash said last week, referring to the meeting of Expert-Level Mechanism set up in November 2006.

“The Indian side has also expressed the hope that the Chinese side will not undertake such a large-scale project or divert waters of the Brahmaputra,” he said.

He said the Chinese side has “categorically denied,” that there is a plan to build any such large scale diversion project on the Brahmaputra river.

“We are looking into the said newspaper report to ascertain, whether there are recent developments that suggest any change in the position conveyed to us by the Government of China,” he said, while referring to the news item that said China has begun constructing a dam on the river as part of the Nagmu hydroelectric project which was inaugurated on March 16.


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