Centre ready to call off operations
http://www.assamtribune.com/
6 October 2006
From Our Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Oct 5 – Notwithstanding the setback in the ULFA peace process, the Centre is unwilling to write off the peace process and has held out fresh hope by indicating that it was still willing to stop Army operations, if the outfit responded positively. The Centre' latest gambit came from National Security Adviser, MK Narayanan, who told newsmen here today that he was willing to call off the Army operations, if ULFA comes for talks.
The NSA was responding to news reports, which quoted ULFA's mouthpiece Freedom as having said that the outfit was still open to finding a 'political solution' to the insurgency in Asom.
Replying to a query, he said that he was unaware about ULFA's statement. "But, if it is true then it is most welcome. I will stop operation if they come," he added.
The NSA had come to the Ministry of Home Affairs to take a meeting on the internal security.
In the latest issue of its mouthpiece, the ULFA said it was, "still hopeful of a political solution and it would respond to any such efforts initiated by the Centre through the PCG". The mouthpiece said it was confident that the PCG would work for bringing about a "political solution".
ULFA's latest threat to target Congressmen in the State, as well as the sudden end to the peace process has the Centre thinking. The UPA Government at the Centre, which was hoping for a breakthrough, is upset at the breakdown of the peace process. Politically, the UPA may not find much support among its allies, with the CPI-M already stating it wanted the peace process to continue.
The reluctance on part of ULFA to commit in writing, unabated extortions and growing belligerence of the outfit coupled with stern warning from Army and intelligence agencies forced the Centre to call off the suspension of operation on September 24. Subsequently, the PCG also pulled out of the peace process.
The development may be significant, because it comes at a time when the Centre is bracing up to intensify operations against ULFA and by all indications, a coordinated operation with Myanmar Army may be in the offing.
Last evening, as reported today, a high level meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary, BK Chaturvedi and attended by top brass of the three services, intelligence officials, was held at South Block to take stock of the internal security situation including Army operations in Asom.
Government of India has decided to provide all assistance to Myanmar Army, as the neighbouring country was willing to help India. Significantly, Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutta had last month paid a quiet visit to Myanmar to discuss the demand for weapons. He briefed the meeting about the outcome of his visit.
Solve ULFA issue through dialogue: AGP
http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/06/stories/2006100601691500.htm
Sushanta Talukdar
|
Seeks halt to Army operations |
· Memorandum given to Manmohan
· Restart peace initiative: CPI (M)
Guwahati: The Opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) on Thursday staged a State-wide sit-in demanding a halt to the Army action against the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). They also demanded a solution to the problem through political dialogue.
AGP president Brindaban Goswami led party leaders and workers at the dharna in front of the Raj Bhavan here.
In a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the AGP demanded an immediate end to the Army operations to ensure a violence-free atmosphere to facilitate dialogue with the ULFA.
The party expressed concern that innocent citizens were affected in the renewed conflict between the security forces and ULFA in Assam following resumption of the Army's operations.
Blaming the Government for the spurt in violence, the AGP alleged that Dispur failed to play the desired role of a facilitator to bring back permanent peace and avail itself of the opportunities present in this regard. It demanded that the Government urge the Centre to halt the Army operations to create a conducive atmosphere for negotiations. "Unfortunate"
The State unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has also expressed concern at the breakdown of the peace initiative and urged both sides to come forward to the negotiating table to find a political solution to the problem.
Describing the development as "unfortunate," State CPI (M) secretary Uddhab Barman said both sides should make efforts to create a congenial atmosphere for direct talks leading to a permanent solution.
On other hand, reacting to the threat issued by ULFA to the Congress, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday told reporters that the Government was duty-bound to protect every citizen and not only Congress workers.
He, however, said that despite the threat the Government would continue its initiative to bring the outfit to the negotiation table.
India supplying military hardware to Myanmar
Web posted at: 10/5/2006 8:32:30
Source ::: IANS
New Delhi • Ignoring protests from Western countries, India has begun transferring military equipment to Myanmar's military junta in order to neutralise China's burgeoning defence, diplomatic and economic ties with Yangon.
In August, unmindful of British protests, the Indian Navy transferred two BN-2 'Defender' Islander maritime surveillance aircraft and deck-based air-defence guns and varied surveillance equipment to Myanmar.
Soon after the navy announced its intention of supplying the British-built Islanders to Myanmar following Indian Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash's visit to Yangon in January, Britain had declared that it would be unable to provide spares and maintenance support for them as it opposed the country's military administration.
Alongside, India had quietly transferred other hardware to the Myanmarese military. "We have recommended and started giving them (Myanmar) 105-mm Indian field guns," Indian Army Vice-Chief Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman told Force magazine recently. In the past we had given them 75/24 Howitzers, Pattabhiraman declared adding that though the numbers were not "much" they were neither "symbolic". Last month Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt finalised negotiations in Yangon (formerly Rangoon) to supply it varied military hardware in return for the military junta's co-operation in flushing out separatist groups like United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) that have long used Myanmar's dense jungles as a sanctuary.
In exchange for an unspecified number of T-55 tanks — which the Indian army is retiring — armoured personal carriers, 105-mm light artillery guns, mortars and the locally designed advanced light helicopters, Delhi also wants to conduct joint military operations against north-eastern militant groups along the 1,643km-long Myanmar frontier. In anticipation of the army's anti-insurgency offensive in the region expected later this month, the security forces have stepped up vigil along its borders with Bangladesh and Bhutan to "tie-in" the insurgents. Dutt's visit, however, was kept under wraps because of Western sensitivity to engaging with Myanmar's military regime. The defence ministry refused to comment on the moves.
On September 15, the UN Security Council led by the US and Britain added Myanmar to its list of countries considered a threat to international peace and security.
The US is also pushing for a strong resolution on the ongoing human rights abuses in Myanmar and the continued incarceration by the military junta of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
India dumped Suu Kyi's cause and launched an aggressive diplomatic and military thrust into Myanmar in the late 1990s, backed by a developmental and commercial drive to try and neutralise ongoing Chinese programmes like the modernisation of Myanmarese naval bases at Hainggyi, Munaung, Akyab, Zadaikyi and Mergui by building radar, refit and refuel facilities. The Indian Navy fears this could support Chinese submarine operations in the region as part of Beijing's "string of pearls" strategy of clinching regional defence and security agreements to secure its mounting fuel requirements and enhance its military profile in the Indian Ocean region. The Chinese are also believed to have established a Signals Intelligence facility on Myanmar's Coco islands, 30km from the Andaman Islands territory on India's east coast to monitor Indian missile tests, an activity that has proliferated in recent years and is poised to grow.
India is also concerned about China's nuclear-armed close ally Pakistan's long standing military ties with Myanmar to whom it had supplied several shiploads of ordnance and other military hardware like 106 mm M-40 recoilless rifles and various small arms over the past decade.
Pakistan also regularly trains Burmese soldiers to operate a range of Chinese equipment like T-63 and T-53 tanks, Soviet fighter aircraft and 155-mm Howitzers and to instruct its air force and naval officers at many of its institutions.
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