Arms smugglers find safe haven in northeast India<\/p>\n
By Zarir Hussain<\/p>\n
GUWAHATI, India (AFP): India's far eastern borders with
\nMyanmar and Bangladesh have spawned flourishing markets for South
\nAsian gun runners supplying separatist guerrilla groups.<\/p>\n
The porous international borders of Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland,
\nand Manipur states are all frequented by illegal weapons
\nsyndicates, smuggling small and medium arms and ammunition to the
\n30-odd rebel outfits operating in the region.<\/p>\n
"The international borders along the northeastern states have
\nbecome a favorite hunting ground for smugglers to sell weapons to
\ninsurgent groups," Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga (Eds: one
\nname) told AFP from the state capital Aizawl.<\/p>\n
"In fact, arms bazaars along the borders have been in
\nexistence for several decades, but the volume has grown
\nenormously in recent years."<\/p>\n
The chief minister was himself a top guerrilla leader of the
\nMizo National Front (MNF) before the outfit laid down its arms in
\n1986 and entered the political mainstream.<\/p>\n
Most of the weapons, which include AK-47 assault rifles,
\nmortars, 40mm rocket launchers and revolvers, originate from
\nThailand and Cambodia and are distributed from the mountainous
\nArakan region of Myanmar.<\/p>\n
"The arms consignments are often routed by sea through the Bay
\nof Bengal to its destination in the Arakan forest which is across
\nfrom Mizoram," Zoramthanga said.<\/p>\n
"The weapons are generally brought from some South Asian and
\nfareastern countries into the Arakans."<\/p>\n
The Arakan Army, the armed wing of Myanmar's National United
\nParty of Arakan (NUPA) which has been fighting a lengthy
\ninsurgency against the military regime in Yangon, reigns supreme
\nin the hilly region.<\/p>\n
"Many of the northeastern militant groups have opened up front
\ncompanies in Thailand and other Southeast Asian capitals to serve
\nas a smokescreen for their agents to seek arms deals," said a top
\narmy commander, engaged in counter-insurgency operations in
\nAssam.<\/p>\n
The leader of the outlawed National Socialist Council of
\nNagaland (NSCN), Thuingaleng Muivah, was arrested in Bangkok in
\nJanuary after he tried to enter Thailand with forged travel
\ndocuments.<\/p>\n
He arrived in Bangkok from Pakistan where he had reportedly
\nstruck a major arms deal.<\/p>\n
India accuses Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI)
\noperatives of penetrating the northeastern borders to foment
\nregional insurgency and supply the rebel groups with
\nsophisticated weapons.<\/p>\n
"The government has definite reports of ISI agents supplying
\nweapons to the region's militant outfits," Assam Chief Minister
\nPrafulla Kumar Mahanta said.<\/p>\n
"Security measures on the borders have been strengthened and
\nseveral arrests made in recent months".<\/p>\n
Most of the insurgent groups in the region possess a wide
\narray of weapons, including hand-held rocket launchers capable of
\nbringing down aircraft.<\/p>\n
More than 50,000 people have been killed in violence linked to
\nthe various separatist insurgences raging in India's seven
\nnortheastern states since independence in 1947.<\/p>",
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