The Burmese junta is imparting military training to soldiers of 20 battalions under the northwestern military division in Kalemyo and Tamu Townships in Sagaing division, western Burma to ostensibly flush out Indian rebel groups in a joint operation with the Indian Army. The insurgents are holed up across the border in Burma.

The special training began in early March 2010 for the 20 battalions. They are being trained battalion wise in Indaingyi village 10 miles from Kalemyo.

“Families of military personnel told us that the Burmese and Indian military will fight Indian insurgents in the Indo-Burma border areas before monsoon this year,” said a Kalemyo local.

The Burmese military brass had met Indian leaders last February in Naypyitaw, Burma’s capital. They agreed to flush out Indian rebels from the northeast states in India sheltered in Burma. The request was made by the Indian government to the Burmese generals.

Indian officials have handed over maps, which identify camp locations and the area of operations of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People’s Liberation Army (PLA), NSCN (Khaplang) and NSCN (Isak-Muivah) to the Burmese Deputy Home Minister Brig. Gen. Phone Swe.

“I don’t think the Burmese Army will take on the rebels, because it gets an enormous amount of money from the insurgent groups every year and the two sides have a perfect rapport. Burmese authorities have provided National Identity Card to some of the insurgent groups in Tamu town,” a local in Tamu town told Khonumthung News.-