[Assam] Letter to the ULFA with a ‘road map’ of Assam’s Sovereignty restoration process should now take place and then the ‘Cease Fire’ between the two States can be meaningful for a political solution.

[Bartta Bistar]

*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*



http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=India&month=October2006&file=World_News2006100583230.xml


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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