ULFA shifts 3 main cmaps to Arunach

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ULFA shifts 3 main camps to Arunachal

Utpal Parashar
Guwahati, May 29
>From "The Hindustan Times" (New Delhi), May 30, 2000

Fresh moves by Bhutan and Myanmar against militant outfits based in
their areas have forced the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to
look for new camp sites in Arunachal Pradesh.

Official sources state that following recent counter-offensives launched
by the Myanmarese Army, the ULFA has recently shifted three main camps
along with nearly 100 cadres to the border areas of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Bhutan government's recent threats to use force to evict militant
outfits based in their soil have also pressurised the ULFA to look for
new places to set up camps for training their cadres, sources stated.

The first ULFA camps in Myanmar were set up 15 years ago with the help
of Kachin Independent Army (KIA), a local militant group which was also
instrumental in providing training and arms to ULFA and many other
militant outfits of the region.

"With the surrender of many senior leaders in the past few months, the
KIA suffered huge setbacks and reached an agreement with the Myanmar
government recently. Following this agreement, the Myanmarese Army
launched counter-offensive against the militant outfits from India based
there. This is the main reason why ULFA is shifting camps to Arunachal,"
said an official.

The move to shift camps to Arunachal Pradesh is also the result of
strict vigil by the Royal Bhutan Army in the past few weeks. Last month,
the Bhutan Government assured India that it would not allow the Indian
militant outfits to operate from its soil.

The assurance came after reports of King Jigme Singhye Wangchuck, having
breakfast with the ULFA cadres in camps located in Bhutan appeared in
many newspapers. The Bhutan government denied the reports and stated
that its government would never support any outfit operating from
Bhutan.