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Myanmar launches military offensive against Indian separatists

IRNA

Guwahati, Jan 5, IRNA -- Myanmar have launched a military offensive 
against Indian separatist bases amid a similar crackdown in adjoining 
Bhutan, Indian officials Monday said. 
"The offensive by the Myanmarese army began over the weekend 
targeting rebel bases belonging to the S.S. Khaplang faction of the 
National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN)," an Indian intelligence
official told IRNA. 
"Details of the operations are not immediately available." 
The fighting is taking place along the mountainous border that 
separates India`s Nagaland state from Myanmar`s northern Sagaing 
region, an area where dozens of separatist groups fighting against New
Delhi or Yangoon have been active for nearly 40 years. 
"Myanmarese soldiers have attacked several of our camps although 
we managed to repulse the offensive in many areas," an NSCN (Khaplang)
spokesman told journalists by telephone from an undisclosed location. 
"The Myanmarese forces are advancing towards our headquarters 
where the leader of our group S.S. Khaplang is currently based. We 
shall ensure that the troops does not reach the camp at any cost." 
Indian army chief General N.C. Vij Friday said India was training 
troops in Myanmar for a possible joint operation against separatist 
bases. 
"The Myanmarese offensive has been launched at the behest of the 
Indian army," the NSCN leader said. "We have not suffered any 
casualties in the attacks so far." 
The NSCN (Khaplang), fighting for an independent tribal homeland 
in Nagaland, is currently observing a ceasefire with New Delhi 
although peace talks with the group was yet to start. 
The NSCN (K) operates out of Myanmar and is known to provide 
weapons training and shelter to many of the separatist groups active 
in India`s northeastern region. 
"After the military crackdown in Bhutan, the militants are now 
concentrating to shift bases to Myanmar and so we have put our 
security forces on maximum alert along Nagaland`s border with 
Myanmar," Nagaland Home Minister T. Lotha told IRNA by telephone from 
capital Kohima. 
Indian intelligence officials say up to 1,000 militants belonging 
to the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) could be 
staying with NSCN cadres inside Myanmar. 
"The attack on the NSCN camps mean other rebel groups staying 
under their protection would also be targeted by Myanmar," the 
intelligence official said. 
There has been no official confirmation on the military offensive 
from Myanmar and it is not known if the Indian army was helping in the
assaults. 
Myanmar in the past launched several crackdowns on Indian 
separatist bases although the scale of the operations were not massive
and lacked the sting. 
1260/210 
End