China-Myanmar ties boon to NE militancy

GUWAHATI, July 20 – Growing influence of China on Myanmar and the coming together of the anti-talk militant groups in the neighbouring country may have serious implications in the North East region of the country in the days to come and there is urgent need for greater synergy among the police and security forces working in all the States of the region to deal with the problem.

Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that according to intelligence inputs, instead of assisting any individual militant group, China would be keen on helping the groups if they come together and the militants having bases in Myanmar have been given to understand that to get help from China, they would have to come into some kind of understanding.

Sources said that the reports available with the security agencies indicate that most of the hardline groups, who are not keen on talks with the Government of India at this moment, have converged in the Taga area of Myanmar and the possibility of them coming together, at least for operational purposes, cannot be ruled out.

There have been specific information about Paresh Baruah, commander in chief of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) taking the help of PLA cadres to indulge in acts of violence in Assam and if all the groups come together and they start receiving help from China, the region may face serious law-and-order problem in the days to come.

Official sources revealed that according to available inputs, several Manipur-based militant groups, including PLA, UNLF, PREPAK and KYKL, have come into some kind of understanding. The anti-talk faction of the ULFA, headed by Paresh Baruah, is in the Taga area in close contact with the NSCN (K) and leaders of the Manipur-based groups, while. the commander in chief of the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), IK Sangbijit along with several hardcore members of the outfit have come closer in the Taga area.

The Maoist rebel groups have already signed an agreement with the PLA of Manipur and if the Maoists join hands with the other rebel groups having bases in Myanmar, the possibility of the situation deteriorating fast cannot be ruled out.

Sources said that earlier, the militant groups of North East used to procure weapons from China and number of such weapons manufactured by the Norinko ordnance factory of China were recovered. But so far, direct involvement of any Chinese official in supplying weapons to the militants has not been established. However recently, one remote controlled improvised explosive device manufactured in China was recovered in Tinsukia by the Army, which has sent alarm bells ringing as earlier the militants used only weapons and grenades made in China and programmable time device switches manufactured in Pakistan. The recovery was made early this month following the death of a ULFA militant Naren Sonowal in Pengeri area of Tinsukia district.