Neighbouring countries' poor respon

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      Neighbouring countries? poor response irks Indian government

SHIVNATH JHA
The Statesman (New Delhi)
May 23, 2001

NEW DELHI, May 22. ? The government has expressed concern over the
?partial implementation? of the resolutions passed during a series of
meetings held with the Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan and Thailand
governments to curb cross-border militancy, especially in the North-
eastern states.

The home ministry sources said, ?During the past six years, over a dozen
meetings were held between the Indian government and its counterparts in
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan Thailand and others and cooperation
was sought to control the increasing clout of the militant organizations
in the seven North-eastern states. But the result is ?almost? zero.?

They said, ?The problem is compounded as the state leaders are generally
hand-in-glove with the ultra groups, especially in Manipur, Assam and
Tripura.? They added most militant organizations were getting financial
aid and arms from other organisations across the border.

Despite being declared unlawful by the government, at least 14 militant
organizations are working in five of the seven North-eastern states.

In Manipur, six major organisations including PLA, UNLF, PRPK and MLF
have been active for decades followed by two each in Assam ? Ulfa and
NDFB, Nagaland ? NSCN (Isak-Muivah) and NSCN (K), Tripura ? ATTF and
NLFT ? and Meghlaya ? ANVC and HNLC.

Because of the increasing trans-border linkage of militants over a dozen
top diplomatic-level meetings with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal
were held. ?But none of the governments have responded positively so far
in curbing militancy. The supply of sophisticated arms and ammunition
from the neighbouring countries into India has increased,? a home
ministry official added.

In December last year, Mr CM Shafi Sami, foreign secretary of
Bangladesh, visited India to review ways and means of further
consolidating and enhancing mutually beneficial trade and economic
cooperation, including how to curb the growth of terrorist activities in
the region.

Following this another meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Working
Group in February was held to discuss security related issues.

?However, the majority of these issues including, action against the
ultras hiding in Bangladesh, uninterrupted movement of Bangladeshis to
Tin Bigha, illegal migration, border incidents, smuggling of arms and
explosives, women and children trafficking ? remain unimplemented,? the
official added.

Similarly, after the Myanmar home minister Mr Col Tin Hlaing?s India
trip in November last year, a high-level delegation led by HE General
Maung Aye, vice-chairman of the Myanmar?s State Peace and Development
Council visited India to discuss, besides other things, international
terrorism and drug trafficking.

Later, a four-member team, led by the additional secretary in the home
ministry, Mr PD Shenoy, also visited Myanmar to study the approach to
control militancy and bring rebel groups back into the mainstream.

?Though the Myanmar government had assured us help in combating
cross-border militancy, most of the assurances remained on paper only?,
the official maintained.

India and Myanmar signed a pact to maintain peace and tranquility in the
border areas on 29 January 1994.

Regarding Bodo and Ulfa hideouts in Bhutan, sources said the issue was
taken up with the Bhutan government but there was no positive response.

Terming Nepal as a major center for supply of foreign-made arms and
ammunition to the militant organizations operating in India, the sources
said, ?Even after a decision taken at a home secretary level meeting to
initiate suitable measures, Nepal has been turned into a major hideout
for criminals and the source of illegal arms and ammunition.?



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<center><font color="#3333FF"><font size=+1>Neighbouring countries? poor
response irks Indian government</font></font></center>

<p><i><font color="#FF0000">SHIVNATH JHA</font></i>
<br><i><font color="#FF0000">The Statesman (New Delhi)</font></i>
<br><i><font color="#FF0000">May 23, 2001</font></i>
<p>NEW DELHI, May 22. ? The government has expressed concern over the ?partial
implementation? of the resolutions passed during a series of meetings held
with the Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan and Thailand governments to
curb cross-border militancy, especially in the North- eastern states.
<p>The home ministry sources said, ?During the past six years, over a dozen
meetings were held between the Indian government and its counterparts in
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan Thailand and others and cooperation
was sought to control the increasing clout of the militant organizations
in the seven North-eastern states. But the result is ?almost? zero.?
<p>They said, ?The problem is compounded as the state leaders are generally
hand-in-glove with the ultra groups, especially in Manipur, Assam and Tripura.?
They added most militant organizations were getting financial aid and arms
from other organisations across the border.
<p>Despite being declared unlawful by the government, at least 14 militant
organizations are working in five of the seven North-eastern states.
<p>In Manipur, six major organisations including PLA, UNLF, PRPK and MLF
have been active for decades followed by two each in Assam ? Ulfa and NDFB,
Nagaland ? NSCN (Isak-Muivah) and NSCN (K), Tripura ? ATTF and NLFT ? and
Meghlaya ? ANVC and HNLC.
<p>Because of the increasing trans-border linkage of militants over a dozen
top diplomatic-level meetings with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal
were held. ?But none of the governments have responded positively so far
in curbing militancy. The supply of sophisticated arms and ammunition from
the neighbouring countries into India has increased,? a home ministry official
added.
<p>In December last year, Mr CM Shafi Sami, foreign secretary of Bangladesh,
visited India to review ways and means of further consolidating and enhancing
mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation, including how to curb
the growth of terrorist activities in the region.
<p>Following this another meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Working
Group in February was held to discuss security related issues.
<p>?However, the majority of these issues including, action against the
ultras hiding in Bangladesh, uninterrupted movement of Bangladeshis to
Tin Bigha, illegal migration, border incidents, smuggling of arms and explosives,
women and children trafficking ? remain unimplemented,? the official added.
<p>Similarly, after the Myanmar home minister Mr Col Tin Hlaing?s India
trip in November last year, a high-level delegation led by HE General Maung
Aye, vice-chairman of the Myanmar?s State Peace and Development Council
visited India to discuss, besides other things, international terrorism
and drug trafficking.
<p>Later, a four-member team, led by the additional secretary in the home
ministry, Mr PD Shenoy, also visited Myanmar to study the approach to control
militancy and bring rebel groups back into the mainstream.
<p>?Though the Myanmar government had assured us help in combating cross-border
militancy, most of the assurances remained on paper only?, the official
maintained.
<p>India and Myanmar signed a pact to maintain peace and tranquility in
the border areas on 29 January 1994.
<p>Regarding Bodo and Ulfa hideouts in Bhutan, sources said the issue was
taken up with the Bhutan government but there was no positive response.
<p>Terming Nepal as a major center for supply of foreign-made arms and
ammunition to the militant organizations operating in India, the sources
said, ?Even after a decision taken at a home secretary level meeting to
initiate suitable measures, Nepal has been turned into a major hideout
for criminals and the source of illegal arms and ammunition.?
<p>&nbsp;</html>

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