The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said New Delhi has received assurances from Myanmar that its territory will not be allowed to be used for insurgent activities against India.
"With respect to security we have ongoing cooperation with Myanmar. We have also received assurances that Myanmar territory will not be allowed to be used for insurgent activities against India. Both sides remained in close and regular contact in this regard," said MEA spokesperson Vishnu Prakash, while briefing media persons on the state visit to India of the President of Myanmar Thein Sein.
Myanmar President U Thein Sein arrived in Bodh Gaya on Wednesday on a State visit to India.
The visiting President assumed office on March 30 this year after general elections and this is the first high-level visit from Myanmar to India, of the new civilian government.
"The President is accompanied by his spouse and is leading a high-level delegation that includes a number of his Cabinet colleagues such as the Minister for Border Affairs and Myanmar's Industrial Development, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation, the Minister for Religious Affairs, the Minister of Industry, the Minister of Electric Power, the Minister of National Planning and Economic Development as well as the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, the Union Minister for Transport, the Union Minister for Energy, the Minister of Science and Technology, the Union Minister of Commerce, the Chief of General Staff in the Ministry of Defence, the Deputy Minister of Health, a number of senior officials, and other members of the delegation," said Vishnu Prakash.
"He arrived yesterday at Gaya and is presently undertaking a pilgrimage of the holy Buddhist sites at Gaya, Khushinagar and Sarnath. He will be arriving later in the evening at New Delhi," he added.
There will be a ceremonial reception and welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow in honour of the visiting Myanmar President.
"Tomorrow there will be a ceremonial reception and welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. There will be a call on him by the External Affairs Minister followed by delegation-level talks at noon with the Prime Minister of India, signing of some agreements. He would be paying a visit to Akshardham Temple. In the evening he meets the President who also hosts a banquet in the honour of the visiting dignitary," said Vishnu Prakash.
He said the visiting President would also be visiting the Indian Agricultural Research Institute on Saturday before emplaning for Myanmar, as agriculture is an important area of cooperation between the two countries
Vishnu Prakash further said this is the third visit of Myanmar President U Thein Sein to India.
"This is his third visit to India. He first visited India in 2004 during the state visit of Sr. General Than Shwe as Secretary-1 as he was called then. He next visited in November 2008 as the Prime Minister of Myanmar to participate in the BIMSTEC Summit in New Delhi," he said.
Vishnu Prakash said India and Myanmar have enjoyed a longstanding relationship underpinned by ethnic, cultural and linguistic proximities, affinities.
"A large section of the Myanmar population is Buddhist and naturally sees India as their spiritual home. By various counts, something like a million people in Myanmar are of Indian origin," said Vishnu Prakash.
"Four of India's Northeastern States - Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram - share a land border with Myanmar, which is more than 1600 kilometres. In fact, Myanmar is the only Southeast Asian State with which we have a land boundary, and as such it is a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia, and also a gateway to the ASEAN region. Naturally connectivity through Myanmar can play a valuable role in spurring economic development in our northeastern region," he added.
Stating that Myanmar is also an integral part in our Look East Policy, Vishnu Prakash said: "India and Myanmar are members of a number of regional fora including BIMSTEC, the East Asia Summit, ASEAN Plus Six, as well as other international fora. In 2008, Myanmar became an Observer at the SAARC."
" Our relations with Myanmar encompass a number of important areas like security, trade and investments, energy, capacity-building, health and education, science and technology, as well as infrastructure development," he added.
The MEA spokesperson further said India attaches the highest importance to the state visit of the President of Myanmar and is confident that this would place the relationship on an even stronger footing.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
GNLA guns down tribal woman
Shillong, Oct 29 : A tribal woman was shot at by Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants in Meghalaya, police said today.
Rabbella Ch Marak was shot on her left hand and back by GNLA militants at Nengmandalgre village in East Garo Hills district yesterday, suspecting her to be a police informer, police said.
However, GNLA political secretary Bikdot Nikjang Marak claimed that Ms Marak was involved in gathering information of the outfit.
'' We had no intention to kill her. We only wanted to punish her because she refused to listen to our warnings. She was found collaborating with police on two previous occasions also,'' a local daily quoting the GNLA political secretary Bikdot Nikjang Marak stated.
However, police officials have denied the allegation.
The victim, now admitted at private hospital in West Garo Hills district, is said to be out of danger.
Meanwhile, police have registered a case.
Rabbella Ch Marak was shot on her left hand and back by GNLA militants at Nengmandalgre village in East Garo Hills district yesterday, suspecting her to be a police informer, police said.
However, GNLA political secretary Bikdot Nikjang Marak claimed that Ms Marak was involved in gathering information of the outfit.
'' We had no intention to kill her. We only wanted to punish her because she refused to listen to our warnings. She was found collaborating with police on two previous occasions also,'' a local daily quoting the GNLA political secretary Bikdot Nikjang Marak stated.
However, police officials have denied the allegation.
The victim, now admitted at private hospital in West Garo Hills district, is said to be out of danger.
Meanwhile, police have registered a case.
Abductors hike ransom
Silchar, Oct. 29 : Kidnappers of the NF Railway locomotive driver, Tarun Kumar Bhattacharjee, have upped their ransom demand from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
United Democratic Liberation Army (UDLA), which masterminded his abduction, was reportedly peeved with the dilly-dallying by Bhattacharjee’s family in handing over the ransom, and increased the amount.
Hailakandi superintendent of police Hemanta Bhattacharjee confirmed the ransom hike this morning over phone.
Police sources said the ransom note bore the signature of UDLA chairman Sishuram Reang, who, according to police intelligence, operated from Mizoram’s Kolosib district.
The UDLA chief had told reporters over phone in Hailakandi yesterday that he was forced to demand such a high ransom from Bhattacharjee’s family as it was only way to force the Centre to take notice of the outfit.
Another reason behind the kidnapping, Reang said, was to raise money to buy modern weaponry.
The ransom hike has, however, compounded the woes of Bhattacharjee’s wife, his two daughters and his son, who had been spending sleepless nights waiting for his return at their railway quarters in Badarpur.
Bhattacharjee was kidnapped from the Mizoram-bound Badarpur-Bhairabi passenger train on October 20 evening when the train slowed down near Purbachairabak hamlet under Hailakandi district’s Katlicherra block on the Assam-Mizoram border.
Though eight days have elapsed since the abduction and Hailakandi police is claiming to have zeroed in on the kidnappers’ hideout, there has been no breakthrough yet.
According to police sources, Assam and Mizoram police personnel along with IRB and CRPF jawans have been scanning the hilly jungles on the Assam-Mizoram border to track down the rebels and rescue the missing railway employee.
United Democratic Liberation Army (UDLA), which masterminded his abduction, was reportedly peeved with the dilly-dallying by Bhattacharjee’s family in handing over the ransom, and increased the amount.
Hailakandi superintendent of police Hemanta Bhattacharjee confirmed the ransom hike this morning over phone.
Police sources said the ransom note bore the signature of UDLA chairman Sishuram Reang, who, according to police intelligence, operated from Mizoram’s Kolosib district.
The UDLA chief had told reporters over phone in Hailakandi yesterday that he was forced to demand such a high ransom from Bhattacharjee’s family as it was only way to force the Centre to take notice of the outfit.
Another reason behind the kidnapping, Reang said, was to raise money to buy modern weaponry.
The ransom hike has, however, compounded the woes of Bhattacharjee’s wife, his two daughters and his son, who had been spending sleepless nights waiting for his return at their railway quarters in Badarpur.
Bhattacharjee was kidnapped from the Mizoram-bound Badarpur-Bhairabi passenger train on October 20 evening when the train slowed down near Purbachairabak hamlet under Hailakandi district’s Katlicherra block on the Assam-Mizoram border.
Though eight days have elapsed since the abduction and Hailakandi police is claiming to have zeroed in on the kidnappers’ hideout, there has been no breakthrough yet.
According to police sources, Assam and Mizoram police personnel along with IRB and CRPF jawans have been scanning the hilly jungles on the Assam-Mizoram border to track down the rebels and rescue the missing railway employee.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
45 UTLA cadres surrender before Manipur CM
IMPHAL, Oct 28 : Forty-three armed cadres of the United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA) including its top leaders Thursday formally surrendered with their arms before the Manipur Chief Minister, GOC 57th Mountain Division and Manipur DGP, in a “Home Coming Ceremony” held at 1st Manipur Rifles parade ground, Imphal.
President of the outfit Seipu alias Izeal, general secretary Siehzahau and home secretary SL Minlun alias Lulun were among the 43 cadres who surrendered through the Red Shield Division of the 57 Mountain Division.
Officials of the Red Shield Division who termed the ceremony as “Home Coming Ceremony” described today’s function as “another landmark peace initiative” of the division. The cadres decided to come home by abjuring the path of violence under the guidance and direction of GOC Red Shield Division, Major General Binoy Poonem.
Speaking on the occasion, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh made a fresh appeal to all insurgent groups operating in Manipur to abjure violence and come to the negotiating table, saying that every problem could be solved through dialogue.
“My government will not leave a stone unturned to keep the confidence they (insurgents) have on us,” he said assuring that his government was always ready to take up rehabilitation work for the youths who were “misguided”.
Welcoming the home coming of the UTLA cadres, the Ibodi asserted that the group had already approached for joining the tripartite suspension of operation agreement among GoI, GoM and Kuki based militant groups under the umbrella organisations, Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF).
UTLA had already made known their charter of demands from the government. During a thorough study to their demands, it was found that most of them were genuine. Government would consider the demands point by point, he said.
Manipur DGP Y Joykumar asserted that with the UTLA coming out to the negotiating table, the hindrances which were given to the construction of Jiribam-Tupul railway line and other developmental works taken up in parts of Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Jiribam sub-division of Imphal East would be remarkably reduce.
According to the DGP, UTLA cadres are actively operating in Jiribam, Vangai Range of Churachandpur and Nungba hill range of Tamenglong district.
GOC Red Shield Division Major General Binoy Poonem clarified that today’s ceremony was not a surrender ceremony but “UTLA entering to another suspension of operation agreement with the government.”
He further assured that his division will continue to work for the prevalent of peace in the region by paving the way for militants come to the negotiating table.
The United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA) was raised by one James in year 2003. However, at a later date after the death of James, UTLA was split into two factions called UTLA and UTLA (Max). UTLA (Max) over a period of time got neutralized and as on date majority of them are in jail.
Due to leadership crisis and differences, president of UTLA Izeal and general secretary Shjao along with its 42 armed cadres were motivated to join the mainstream. On September 8 last, the two leaders of the group announced formally to join the suspension of operation, said a statement distributed during the home coming ceremony orchestrated by 27 sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of Red Shield Division.
Manipur outfit joins peace pact
Ibobi Singh
Imphal, Oct. 28 : Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh today welcomed 43 members of the United Tribal Liberation Army, including its president, who have shown eagerness to ink a suspension of operations agreement with the army.
The group, which operates from the Vangai range and Nungba in Tamenglong district and Jiribam in Imphal East, recently approached the 57 Mountain Division, based at Leimakhong of Sadar Hills for the suspension of operation agreement.
Though both the state government and the army accepted the request, the group is yet the ink the agreement. The process is under way, the army said.
When UTLA signs the pact, the number of groups to come under the peace agreement will go up to 20.
Nineteen groups under two umbrella organisations — the Kuki National Organisation and the United Peoples Front — are now living in designated camps. UTLA cadres will be kept at Uchathol of Jiribam under the protection of the army.
To welcome the group, the state government and the army organised a “homecoming” ceremony at the 1st Manipur Rifle auditorium in Imphal city today.
Ibobi Singh urged the group to follow the ground rules of the suspension of agreement and not to indulge in extortion and violence.
“The groups in the suspension of operation agreement are often found extorting money and indulging in violence. The government and security forces will not tolerate such things,” Ibobi Singh said.
The director-general of police, Yumnam Joykumar Singh, said with UTLA entering a peace pact, disturbances were likely to decrease in construction projects along the railway line from Jiribam to Imphal.
The GOC 57 Mountain Division Binoy Poonen said more splinter groups would soon enter into similar agreements.
Ulfa hardliners active in upper Assam
JORHAT: Ulfa hardliners have intensified their activities in Majuli, Lakhimpur and Tinsukia in the last few days. They are carrying out recruitment and fund collection drives in the said areas by taking shelter in Majuli and the bordering areas with Arunachal Pradesh in Tinsukia.
Security forces have specific inputs on the activities of militants and therefore some additional security measures have been taken up in the upper Assam districts of Jorhat, Sivasagar and Tinsukia.
DIG (Upper Assam) Anurag Tankha said, "Security forces have some intelligence inputs on the activities of Ulfa militants in Majuli, Lakhimpur and Tinsukia districts. So, counter-insurgency operations are being carried out in some locations and security measures have been intensified."
He added, "A group comprising about eight members under the leadership of Rajiv Das is currently staying in some sapori areas of Majuli. They frequently change their hideouts to avoid police. Besides, a big group of Ulfa hardliners have taken shelter in the bordering areas of Arunachal Pradesh in Tinsukia. It is busy with recruitment drives and collection of funds in upper Assam districts. This group generally takes refuge in areas like Sunapur, Mahadevpur and Jagun in the district and carry out their activities,"' he said, adding that all these areas are very remote and the people living there are generally poor.
"These are mainly Moran and Motok community-dominated areas and youths from these places join hands with the Paresh Baruah-led Ulfa faction. But as soon as security forces launch operation, they manage to shift their shelter to Arunachal Pradesh through the porous border of the neghbouring state," he added.
According to sources, Baruah is now focusing on recruitment of new cadres to his faction and has sent some of his cadres to some remote areas in Jorhat, Sivasagar and Tinsukia district with some special assignments on recruitment and funds collection.
Security forces have specific inputs on the activities of militants and therefore some additional security measures have been taken up in the upper Assam districts of Jorhat, Sivasagar and Tinsukia.
DIG (Upper Assam) Anurag Tankha said, "Security forces have some intelligence inputs on the activities of Ulfa militants in Majuli, Lakhimpur and Tinsukia districts. So, counter-insurgency operations are being carried out in some locations and security measures have been intensified."
He added, "A group comprising about eight members under the leadership of Rajiv Das is currently staying in some sapori areas of Majuli. They frequently change their hideouts to avoid police. Besides, a big group of Ulfa hardliners have taken shelter in the bordering areas of Arunachal Pradesh in Tinsukia. It is busy with recruitment drives and collection of funds in upper Assam districts. This group generally takes refuge in areas like Sunapur, Mahadevpur and Jagun in the district and carry out their activities,"' he said, adding that all these areas are very remote and the people living there are generally poor.
"These are mainly Moran and Motok community-dominated areas and youths from these places join hands with the Paresh Baruah-led Ulfa faction. But as soon as security forces launch operation, they manage to shift their shelter to Arunachal Pradesh through the porous border of the neghbouring state," he added.
According to sources, Baruah is now focusing on recruitment of new cadres to his faction and has sent some of his cadres to some remote areas in Jorhat, Sivasagar and Tinsukia district with some special assignments on recruitment and funds collection.
Manipur Rifles jawan injured in militant attack
Imphal, Oct 27 (PTI) A Manipur Rifles jawan was among two persons
injured when militants attacked the house of a government official,
officials said today.
Militants hurled a grenade at the house of chief engineer of public works department Lokendra Singh at Kiyamgei area in Imphal East district at around 10.30 pm last night.
In the explosion, a jawan of the 7th Manipur Rifles battalion and a driver of the official was injured, they said adding, the injured were taken to a nearby hospital where their condition was stated to be out of danger.
Police is investigating whether the attack was linked to a monetary demand from the official.
Militants hurled a grenade at the house of chief engineer of public works department Lokendra Singh at Kiyamgei area in Imphal East district at around 10.30 pm last night.
In the explosion, a jawan of the 7th Manipur Rifles battalion and a driver of the official was injured, they said adding, the injured were taken to a nearby hospital where their condition was stated to be out of danger.
Police is investigating whether the attack was linked to a monetary demand from the official.
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