Myanmar seeks help against ultras

SHILLONG, APR 10
Myanmar said action against Indian insurgents in its territory will be initiated only after receiving military assistance from India, Myanmar's ambassador to India U. Kyi Thein said today.
"We have informed India of our requirements to help us in fighting against the insurgents," the Myanmar envoy said.
He, however refused to divulge details about the kind of assistance it had sought from India. "India has agreed to provide us with our military requirements, but I cannot share with you our requirements," Thein said. Myanmar's military junta has its own share of insurgency problems with outfits like the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) operating in different parts of the country.
"Poverty and lack of education is encouraging militancy. We (India-Myanmar) need to work together to solve these issues," the Myanmar envoy said.
Myanmar's policy, he added, is now to develop infrastructure along the border with special emphasis on connectivity. "There is the need to extend the railway line from Jiribam (in Manipur) to the nearest rail network in Myanmar," he added.
"Myanmar-India connectivity is now better than before, but much more remains to be done. It will be more beneficial if the connectivity between the two countries is enhanced, and both countries must work in that direction," Thein maintained
Thein was here to attend an international seminar on "From Landlocked to Landlinked: North East India in BIMSTEC" here at North Eastern Hill University here in Meghalaya.
"We also shared the same problem (insurgency) like India and we wanted this problem's concern on the insurgency issue, but this problem will be sorted once India meet our requirements," he said.
There are at least 15 insurgents' camps operating from Myanmar soil, fighting either for an autonomous or independent homeland in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam. Myanmar share some 1,643 km long border between them.
New Delhi has been requesting Myanmar to take action against the rebels which include Manipur-based United National Liberation Front, People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, Assam-based United Liberation Front of Asom and both the warring factions of National Socialist of Nagaland outfits operating from Sagaing division and the Chin State of Myanmar.
Thein, however made it clear that the insurgency problem across the India-Myanmar border can be sorted out through infrastructure.
"We (India-Bangladeh) now to develop infrastructure in the border with special emphasis on developing connectivity," the Myanmar envoy said.
It may be recalled that India has received positive response from Bangaldesh which led to the arrest of ULFA leaders recently.(NP)