ULFA operation reach Myanma

Jairampur (Indo-Myanmar border), Jan 30 (UNI) The anti-ULFA operation has reached Myanmar where the military 'Junta' has mounted a massive offensive to destroy all camps, including the main base of the NSCN (K).

A senior army official confirmed the development, saying although ULFA was the prime target, NSCN (K) cadres were also included in the crackdown. Barring S S Khaplang, all top leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) appear to have fled Myanmar in the wake of the military attack.

A spokesman for the SS Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) said Myanmar's military 'junta' had burnt down the outfit's general headquarters and two other camps in the country's northern Sagaing Division.

''Heavy fighting is going on with a brigade (3,000 personnel) of the Myanmarese army with mortars and rocket launchers in a massive assault on our cadres since the weekend,'' AZ Jami, a senior NSCN-K leader, said over the telephone.

The NSCN-K, fighting for an independent homeland for the Naga tribe in the North Eastern Indian State of Nagaland, has at least 50 camps with 5,000 guerilla fighters entrenched in fortified bunkers in the Sagaing Division.

However, there is no word from the ULFA side as they too have been the worst suffers of the onslaught. The ULFA has been taking the logistical help from the NSCN (K) to run their camp and training bases.

The raid on the NSCN (K)'s camp, which also harbours ULFA, came days after the 'junta' assured external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee of complete support in flushing out Northeast militants from its territory.

The militant group's information and publicity kilonser (minister), A Z Jami, confirmed the military raid on the camp, located about 60 km from the Nagaland town of Mon. ''Nearly 100 of our members were at the headquarters when the soldiers attacked it.

They held on to the base for about two hours but were outnumbered,'' he said.

Official sources, however, said the militant group lost several of its men and that only Khaplang did not flee to adjoining Nagaland.

Although NSCN (K) and ULFA militants have sneaked into Nagaland to escape the operations, security forces on this side of the border have been held back by the truce between the Centre and the two factions of the NSCN .

At least four other militant groups from India's North East, including the ULFA, have training camps in northern Myanmar's thick jungles, the army sources said.

India and Myanmar share a 1,640-km (1,000 mile) unfenced border, allowing militants from the northeast to use the adjoining country as a springboard to carry out hit-and-run strikes on federal soldiers.

UNI