Illegal arms trafficking continues to enter Myanmar across Indian and Thai border areas, according to police officials.
Police Brig-General Soe Myaing, in charge of transnational crime investigations, said on August 22 that such illegal trade is going to armed groups. Some come all the way from Cambodia.
“Some neighbouring countries are selling the weapons illegally to armed groups. We also know that weapons from the war in Cambodia are being illegally imported to Myanmar. That’s why our respective regional police forces are now checking those illegally trade of arms,” said Soe Myang.
The majority routes for arms trafficking come across the India–Myanmar and Thailand-Myanmar border areas. The police forces are now taking action using the Weapon Act to check for arms trafficking.
“We opened two police stations in Matupi Township in Mindat District close to the India border area. We are now investigating illegal trade including drug, arms and immigrants. We have seized drug controlled chemical medicines in last year,” said Myo Aung from Mindat District Police in Chin State.
Riposte to Article in EBO Briefing Paper No. 8, dated August 2013
(August 15, 2013)
Virulently attacking the UNFC organized Ethnic Nationality Conference, which was held to enhance the National Reconciliation and Peace Building process of the non-Burman ethnicresistance forces and the political opposition, the Euro-Burma Office (EBO) reared its ugly headagain. With a sprinkling of twisted facts, half-truths and perverted logic, worthy of Nazi propaganda,in an article titled “Analysis of the UNFC Position” it slanders the UNFC and accuses the UNFC oftrying to represent all the ethnic nationality forces, playing a dangerous game and …
The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) has refused to accept Kachin State Red Cross’s offer to provide household appliances for more than 1000 Kachin refugees living in KIO controlled areas.
The Kachin State Red Cross made the offer to the KIO through the Peace Coordination Group (PCG) but were turned down, according to PCG member Lamai Gum Ja.
The Red Cross has already got permission from the President’s Office and the Kachin State government, but KIO said it will not accept the offer.
“We plan to give household appliances to more than 1300 families. But the KIO refuse to accept the offer. So, we cannot go there. We cannot do anything,” Gea Nit, Spokesman of the Kachin State Red Cross, told Mizzima.
The KIO turned down the offer because in accordance with its central committee policy, they cannot accept aid from the government until they establish stable peace with the government, according to Gae Nit.
The Kachin State Red Cross is a branch of Myanmar Red Cross and therefore, the KIO refused the offer. If donors from Denmark and Singapore can make the donations directly without routing it through the government the KIO might accept the offer, said Gae Nit.
The household appliances were donated by the Denmark Red Cross and the Singapore Red Cross, but their representatives could not come to Myanmar. Therefore, the Kachin State Red Cross and Myanmar Red Cross planned to travel to the area to distribute the household appliances. Continue reading “KIO refuses refugee relief from Kachin State Red Cross”→
IMPHAL, August 23: Referring to the news report and photos published in local daily newspapers on August 23 last that personnel of Myanmar Army have started building their post along the Indo-Myanmar border, the Manipur Peoples’ Party (MPP) has stated that ‘the mainland India’ might not have taken the issue seriously but to the State of Manipur, it is of paramount importance.
A statement issued by Heikrujam Nabashyam, spokesperson MPP alleged that after Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister handed over the Kabow Valley, known as Kiyam Lamjao erstwhile to the Burmese leader U Nu in 1953 without considering the consent of the people of the State; the Govt of India is now again in the process of giving large portion of State’s land to Myanmar.
The statement further continued that such acts of the government could only propel bloodshed between Manipuris and Myanmarese though the two groups have been existing in a friendly manner for long.
In order to solve violent issues in North East India including in Manipur, the Govt of India by changing its present attitude and mindset should bring a political solution keeping proper boundary lines of all the north eastern States, he maintained.
Saying that the MPP party would give a befitting reply to the Chief Minister O Ibobi on the latter’s remarks that Congree party could only bring development and growth in the State, he further demanded immediate halt of fencing works being done along the Indo-Myanmar border.
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The Manipur government has taken a serious view of the Myanmarese Army preparations to construct a temporary Army camp at Holenphai village, located 3 km from the police station at Moreh — the border town of Manipur. The State government is in contact with the Centre regarding the development, according to official sources.
Attempts to defuse the crisis by dissuading the Myanmarese Army officers from suspending the work till a final settlement is brought about were not fruitful as the officers said that they cannot do anything against the orders from their higher officials.
(Left) Trees have been cut down for the construction of a camp by the Myanmar Army at Holenphai village in Manipur; (right) a Myanmar Army officer talks to Indian officials near Moreh – the border town of
Meanwhile, several voluntary organisations and political parties in Manipur have been demanding the suspension of the work by Myanmarese Army personnel to erect a border fence as large chunks of the State’s land will be lost. Once the fence is erected, almost half of the 14 tribal villages in Chandel district will go to Myanmar. In the case of Choro in Ukhrul district, the entire village will be on the Myanmarese side of the fence. These political parties and NGOs have been threatening massive agitations to protect Manipur’s land.
Earlier, on the basis of complaints from Myanmar, erection of the 10 km-long border fence at Moreh had been suspended; Myanmar had said that its land had been encroached upon. The construction of the Integrated Check Post office was also suspended on similar ground.
The Myanmarese Army had started cutting trees at Holenphai village for the construction of the temporary Army base-camp, following which the village chief informed the district officials about the development. Robert Khetrimayum, Additional Collector of Moreh, accompanied by sub-divisional police officer H. Balram and Moreh police commando unit office-in-charge Sadananda visited the village on Thursday.
The official team found the Myanarmese Army cutting trees in the village. The Additional Collector told the commanding officer of 87 Light infantry of the Myanmarese Army to suspend the work till a settlement is brought about. However, the commanding officer was not happy that the Indian officials had come inside the “territory” of Myanmar. He told the Indian officials that he cannot do anything unless his higher officials gave him orders.
He also told the Indian officials that according to a map of the Britishers, this area is well within Myanmar.
democracy for burma 
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