NEW DELHI: A member of parliament from Myanmar currently in India under political asylum has alleged that the military regime in his county is aiding and training Indian insurgents from the north-eastern states and had set up five camps for the purpose along the India-Myanmar border according to Times of India”.

In an interview here Dr. Ting Swe who was elected from the Pale II constituency on a National League for Democracy (NLD) ticket said the pro-democracy elements currently operating from outside the country had received concrete information that Myanmar army men deployed near the international border were providing shelter to Indian insurgents.

He said it began in early 1991. Around the same time the Kachin began providing shelter and arms training to insurgent groups such as ULFA PLA and NSCN. The KIOs turning its back on the insurgents was significant in view of it being a prominent constituent of the Democratic Alliance of Burma as (DAB).

“Probably the Burmese government is sheltering and training Khalistan Independent Organization (KIO) which had been host Indian insurgents for long stopped Indian insurgents as a retaliation to India providing refuge to several pro-democracy activists and MPs. The army’s offensive against the Khalplang faction of the NSCN and the influx it has caused into Nagaland of Burmese Nagas should also be seen in this light” Dr Swe said.

According to him China had stopped helping the Kachin insurgents in north Myanmar and also turned its back on the Burmese Communist Party (BCP) which had reportedly led to a” “downfall” of the BCP in most parts of the country. Dr Sweal so criticized the recent build-up of Myanmar army along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border near Coxs Bazar which had ted to the fleeing of many Rohingiya Muslims from the Arakan state to Bangladesh areas.

He is one of the four MPs from the NLD to have taken refuge in India following the crackdown on prodemocracy groups by the Gen Saw Maung-led State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) the other three are U Than Sein (Pale 1)Zahlei Thang (Falam ll) and U Lian (Hanka). All of them have applied formally for political asylum in India

While Dr. Swe has moved to New Delhi and taken up residence here the other three are in Aizank. He said he contacted several people here including officials of the ministry of external affairs and prominent Congress leaders but so far his plea for political asylum has not been granted formally. Besides there were 50 Myanmar students who have also taken refuge in Delhi he said.

This group was receiving assistance from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees at the rate of Rs 830 per month but the same was not the case with students groups asking refuge in Chandel in Manipur and Champhai_ in Mizoram. There were nearly 80 student refugees in Mizoram while their number in Manipur was 75 DrSwe said. In all there were 20 MBPs who had taken refuge outside the country most of them in Thailand.

“We expect full support tour pro-democracy movement from the Indian government particularly at international forums. We are not rebels or insurgents we do not have arms. We are happy that the Indian government is not troubling those of us who are staying in India. But we hope India will recognize the government-in-exile formed by the pro-democracy groups” Dr. Swe said.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 14, 1992