From MIZZIMA News Group (r)

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India to provide training for Anti-Narcotics Officials from Burma

By Our Correspondent
New Delhi, July 30, 1999

India has agreed to organize training for anti-narcotics Officials of
Burma to take strict measures in checking illegal narcotics smuggling
across the Indo-Burma border. This was one of the agreements reached at
the three-day meeting between two countries, which was concluded on July
30, 1999 in New Delhi. The Sixth National Level talks between India and
Burma was led by Indian Home Secretary Mr. Kamal Pandey and Burmese
Deputy Home Minister Brig. General Thura Myint Maung respectively.

According to the press release issued by the Indian Government after the
talks, the ?meeting identified ways and means to strengthen mechanisms
for cooperation on issues like cross border terrorism, sharing of
intelligence on real time basis, setting up of better communication
links, etc?. The meeting also agreed to review the work relating to the
maintenance of the boundary pillars on the Indo-Burma boundary and that
the Surveyor Generals of the two countries shall meet shortly to work
out an action plan in this regard. Moreover, India agreed to provide
training to four bank officers from Burma for the cooperation of banking
arrangements between United Bank of India and Myanmar Economic Bank to
facilitate the border trade between two countries.

While the two delegations were in their meeting today, a group of
Burmese pro-democracy activists staged a demonstration in the afternoon
in New Delhi to protest against the visit of Burmese delegation to
India. The demonstrators gathered in front of Janta Manta, centre of the
Capital and shouted the slogans against the military rule in Burma.

Indian political activists from Samata Party later joined the
demonstration, which lasted for about two hours. Moreover, India-based
All Burma Students League (ABSL) issued a press release today urging the
Government of India to ask the military regime in Burma to start
dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi for transition to democracy in the
country.

During their stay in Delhi, the Burmese delegation called on Indian Home
Minister Mr. L.K. Advani, Commerce Minister Mr. Ram Krishna Hegde and
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Ms. Vasundhara Raje.

In his meeting with Burmese delegation, Indian Home Minister reportedly
expressed India?s concern on the movements of some North East insurgent

groups in the Burma side of the border and he hoped that adequate steps
would be taken by the Burmese authorities to stop such activities.

The Burmese delegation also called on Mr. P.G. Mankatt, Finance and
Revenue Secretary of India and discussed matters relating to checking of
drug trafficking.


By MIZZIMA News Group