BURMA NEWS INTERNATIONAL


11 November 2004

----------------------------------------------------------------------

*  Nagas oppose Indo-Burma military operation

*  Another screw on the Wa

*  Nine Arakanese monks arrested for agitating municipal authority

----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Nagas oppose Indo-Burma military operation

=====================================

Nava Thakuria

Mizzima News(www.mizzima.com)

November 11, 2004

http://www.mizzima.com\Photo News\indian troops

 

Guwahati: Naga civic bodies, political leaders and armed groups have

expressed apprehension about the Indo-Burma joint military operation

to flush out anti-Indian Government insurgents from Burmese soil.

The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) said they would not

tolerate any military intervention which directly threatens democracy,

human rights and sustainable peace.

 

"The Indo-Burma pact on flushing out NE insurgents and to combat

terrorism in the border regions is a matter of grave alarm, and Nagas

need to understand the broader political implications of the politics

of artificial boundaries that has been created to divide the Naga

people so as to limit our struggle against occupation and for our

inalienable right to self-determination," the NPMHR added in a press

release.

 

India targeted the bases of United National Liberation Front, the

People's Liberation Army and smaller outfits. Twenty-five rebels have

been killed and 40 more detained. The temporary headquarters of the

People's Liberation Army (PLA) bordering Burma in the remote Indian

state of Manipur was seized.

 

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio also expressed reservations about

the Indo-Burma military joint operation in border areas. Though he

admitted that the central government had the power to instigate the

military operation, Rio argued that such operations might harass more

civilians.

 

The reactions from both factions of the National Socialist Council of

Nagaland (NSCN) were also not favorable to the Indian Government. The

NSCN (Khaplang), whose headquarters are based inside Burma, had

strongly expressed its resentment against such an operation as it

would "prevent" them from taking part in future peace dialogue.

 

The Isak-Muivah (MI) armed resistance group also opposes a military

operation in Burma like the Bhutan 'flush-out' operation. A NSCN(IM)

representative, K. Chawang, alleged that such an operation would only

harass ordinary Naga people living in border areas.

 

Reacting to the development, the Asian Centre for Human Rights

director, Suhas Chakma, argued that India must shift its mindset of

a "Bhutan-type" operation against the United Liberation Front of Assam

and other insurgents in Burma or Bangladesh as an operation that

cannot be replicated elsewhere.

 

"India has put pressure on Bhutan since armed groups shifted camps to

the tiny Himalayan kingdom in the early 1990s. New Delhi provided

weapons to the Royal Bhutan Army and trained its personnel in counter-

insurgency operations. New Delhi cannot provide such assistance to

Burma or Bangladesh," Mr Chakma added.

 

Meanwhile, Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee reaffirmed that

the truce with the Naga armed groups, NSCN(IM) and NSCN(K)  would

continue even if an Indo-Burma military operation took place in

future. However, he denied that any concrete decision was taken in

this regard.

 

The head of Burma’s military regime, Senior General Than Shwe,

promised to cooperate in the battle against rebels when he visited New

Delhi last month.

 

++++++++++++++++++++

 

Another screw on the Wa

======================

Shan Herald Agency for News

November 11, 2004

 

The Wa, long under the doting wardship of ex-strongman Gen. Khin

Nyunt, were dealt another blow recently when they were notified by

Burma Army authorities to keep them informed of their movements,

reports King Cobra from the Chiangmai border:

 

Since Nov. 5, Wa vehicles leaving for neighboring townships from

either Wanhong or Mongyawn, opposite Chiangmai's Mae Ai district, have

been required to apply for letters of authorization from Monghsat's

principal unit, Infantry Battalion 49. In addition, any cars going

across the Salween river must carry passes issued at either Mongpiang

or Mongton, both townships adjoining the river.

 

Sources, however, have no knowledge of whether the same measure

applies to Wa-controlled areas further north.

 

"In the past, the United Wa State Army's standard retort to any

official attempt to stop or search their vehicles would be ' Please

ask Gen. Khin Nyunt first,' said the source from Monghsat. "Now the

time has come for them to take their medicine."

 

The Wa and other ceasefire groups have been spared the ongoing

campaign against unlicensed automobiles. Some of their automobiles

were seized during the earliest days of the crackdown but were

returned later.

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Nine Arakanese monks arrested for agitating municipal authority

==============================================================

Narinjara News

Akyab, November 10:

 

Nine Arakanese Buddhist monks from Akyab, capital of Arakan state,

have been detained by local authorities and are in danger of being

imprisoned for many years.

 

The monks, from Ka Yu Khaung monastery, located in front of State High

School No. 3 in Akyab, got into a brawl Oct. 18 with Akyab city

municipal staff members.

 

A senior monk, a member of the Arakan State sangha nayaka (the

governing body of the order of monks) confirmed the news of the arrest

and told the Narinjara that senior monks from Akyab are trying to

negotiate release of the monks.

 

A layperson who attended Ka Yu Khaung monastery recounted the genesis

of the problem: "The Akyab Municipal authority impounded the trishaw

which was on its way to collect food for the monks of the monastery,”

he said.  “The monks went to the municipal office to complain about

the impoundment.  When the trishaw was not released, there was a small

brawl between the monks and the municipal staff members there."

 

In order to get more details on the present condition of the monks as

well as personal details, Narinjara tried to contact Abbot U Sein Daa,

but have not been successful so far.

 

The monk who was leader of the agitating group was in solitary

confinement in the Akyab prison, and was rumored by some to have

received a long prison sentence.

 

Akyab Municipal officers normally impound trishaws and demand bribes

for their release.  In this case, the brawl started due to the demand

for a bribe from the monk in exchange for their food trishaws,

according to the source.



.......................................................................

 

Burma News International is a network of nine exiled media groups

such as Mizzima News, Shan Herald Agency for News, Kao Wao News Group,

Khonumthung News Group, Narinjara News, Kaladan Press Network,

Independent Mon News Agency, Karenni Information

Network Group and Network Media Group.

 

.........................

Burma News International

Contact: Duty Editor

        +66 9 54 94 296

bni_newsimna@yahoo.co.uk