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Myanmarese students seek an end to
Subject: Myanmarese students seek an end to bordedr trade
Subject: Myanmarese students seek an end to border trade
MYANMARESE STUDENTS SEEK AN END TO BORDER TRADE
The Hindu, May 22,1996. (New Delhi)
IMPHAL, May 21.
The pro-democratic Myanmarese students who have been living in
refugee camps in Minipur and other undisclosed places in the country,
are hopeful that the BJP-led government may put an end to the
legalised border trade between India and Myanmar. After an inordinate
delay, the border trade agreement was signed in 1994 and it became
operational only 1995. From the very beginning, the pro-democratic
Myanmarese students have been critical of the trade agreement.
In a statement, the students said it was unbecoming of the Indian
Government, to enter into trade agreement with the military rulers. The
students said taking advantage of the trade agreement, the military
rulers were sending huge quantities of heroine and other contraband
goods. Though larger chunks of the sales proceeds are pocketed by
some corrupt element, enough military equipment has been purchased
to suppress the pro-democratic movement in Myanmar. It is alleged that
most of the costly items are not reflected in the official records. The
military rulers might have taken into consideration the vitriolic
criticisms by the exiled students when they levelled serious charges
while demanding the handing over of these students. They had said that
the students who are lodged in Manipur were wanted in Myanmar in
connection
with some specific charges. Over 500 students and other activists had
come to Moreh, the border town in Manipur, when the military rulers
launched a crackdown on the pro-democratic students leaders. The
students were lodged near the police station. However, army intelligence
personnel came to Moreh by mingling with the common smugglers and
shouted at the refugees that unless they voluntarily come back their
family members would face the music in Myanmar. Fearing that there
may be rescue, these refugees were shifted to the 8 Bn Manipur Rifles
battalion at Leikhun well inside the Chandel district. That this too was
not safe was seen from the way police arrested an agent who might have
been trying to kill student leaders. The Indian government declared
them refugees and adequate funds were sanctioned. However there are
reports that the refugees were exploited and an embarrassed Chief
Minister, Mr. R. K. Dorendra had assured the Manipur Assembly that
action would be taken against the official who had misappropriated the
funds. In due course some of the students went back to Myanmar while
others vanished somewhere in India.
One team of students led by a martial arts instructor, were nabbed after
crossing the international border; they were believed to have been
executed on the charge that they had trained some guerrillas. During a
flag meeting, the military rulers are said to have told Indian Army that
the students activists on Myanmar are being imparted guerrilla warfare
which was denied. It was now been made clear that the legalised trade
has benefited some of the military rulers of Myanmar. Since India is not
benefited by the border trade indications are that it may not be renewed
after the expire of the present agreement.