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India denied the reports of its offer to supply arms to Burma

Date : 24th September 1998

	Indian Defense Minister Mr.. George Fernandes denied the report
that India is not offering any kinds of weapon to Burmese military
government. His denial came in the wake of growing concerns among the
democratic activists of Burma and their Indian supporters over the media
reports that India has offered to supply arms and intelligence equipment
to Burma. Referring to the Cabinet secretariat sources, the Hindustan
Times newspaper of India on 12th September wrote that the offer was made
by Indian Defense Secretary Mr.. Ajit Kumar to Brigadier Kyaw Win, Deputy
Director of Burma's powerful Defense Services Intelligence during the
latter second visit to New Delhi in March this year. According to the
report, India has offered to supply Burma state-of-the art 5, 56 mm
assault rifles, radar, electronic warfare and naval communication
equipment and the HAL manufactured aircraft following concerted efforts
and cooperation of Burmese government in helping India fight against
North-East insurgents.

George Fernandes denied the reports as false, groundless and highly
inspired. "There is no subsistence in that report. India is not supplying
any kinds of weapons to Burma", he said in an interview on 24th September.
He also said that an investigation is going on what had actually happened
in the Operation Leech which was jointly operated by the Indian armed
forces on 11, February 1998. During the operation, a huge cache of arms
reportedly for North-East insurgents was seized and Arakan and Karen
National Union insurgents (ethnic armed groups fighting against Burmese
government) were either killed or apprehended by the Indian army. The
Sunday Magazine in its 30 August -5 September issue carried a story on
this operation and on how an Indian army officer, namely  Colonel V.S.
Grewal had in fact planted the Burma's armed groups and planned the
Operation Leech.

Earlier, Chin National Front (CNF) which is taking up armed struggle
against the military regime in Burma criticised India for the
reported-offer of arms to Burmese government. Mr.. Swi Khar, spokesperson
of the organization said that India should not sit on the fence. "We can't
agree and support India's action (arms offer). While India maintains that
it supports the democratic movement in Burma, it should not provide arms
to the military junta which is hampering democratic changes in the
country", said Swi Khar. 

Mr.. Deenadayalan from the Other Media, a networking organization of
India's peoples' movement, also criticised the Indian state over the
reports. He said, "Though Indian state is supposed to be the largest
democracy in the world, the kind of its expression and manifestation in
terms of its relationship with neighbouring countries has showed that it
has also been undemocratic in promoting forces which are not democratic".
"This is a very clear indication in terms of its support to Burmese
government that it doesn't matter to the Government of India, the present
government especially, if Burmese government violates the human rights of
people in Burma", he continued.

By : Soe Myint

MIZZIMA News Group
1944, Outran Line,
Kingsway Camp,
Delhi - 9
Tel/Fax : 0091-11-711 5491


Fernandes orders probe of "Operation Leech"
6 Burmese were killed joint forces of action in Andamans

By Rezaul H. Laskar   New Delhi, September 25 :

The defence ministry has ordered a probe into the controversial Operation
Leech conducted jointly by the three services in the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands in February this year.

Defense minister George Fernandes told Burmese pro-democracy activists on
Thursday that investigation had been ordered to find out "what had
actually happened" during the operation. Mr. Soe Myint, a representative
of a Burmese pro-democracy and human rights organization, told The Asian
Age that six Arakan and Karan National Union insurgents were killed and 74
others captured by the armed forces during the operation on February 11. A
huge cache of weapons was seized by the armed forces. Mr.. Myint said
those killed and captured were members of "ethnic armed groups fighting
the Burmese military junta. The National Party of the Arakans had also
informed Mr. Fernandes the arrested persons were "Arakanese
revolutionaries who were always cooperating with India against her
enemies". The NUPA had even claimed Indian intelligence agencies were in
the know about the arms shipment. Mr. Fernandes acknowledged the receipt
of the Nupa letter during a recent informal get-together with reporters.

The armed forces had claimed the persons arrested were "gun runners"
supplying weapons to insurgent groups operating in the Northeastern
states. Further investigations in the matter were handed over to the CBI.
Defense secretary Ajit Kumar, however, directed the three services not to
conduct any more sensitive operations like Leech.

Although the CBI and the Union government are tightlipped about the latest
developments in the matter, it is believed that the arms were actually
supplied to Burmese insurgents by an Indian intelligence agency.

Due to lack of coordination, the armed forces intercepted the shipment
before it could reach its destination in the Arakan hills. Mr. Fernandes
also informed the Burmese pro-democracy activists that New Delhi had no
plans to supply military hardware to the neighbouring country's military
junta.

Mr. Myint said the defence minister described recent press reports on this
matter as "false, groundless and highly inspired." The Chin National
Front, which is carrying on an armed struggle against the military junta,
has also criticized New Delhi over the reported offer of arms to Burma.
Mr. Swi Khar, the spokesperson for the CNF, said, "India should not sit on
the fence. While India maintains that it supports the Burmese democratic
movement, it should not provide arms to the military junta."

Forwarded By :

MIZZIMA News Group

MIZZIMA's Note : CBI is Central Bureau of Investigation.