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Mizzima: George friend of Burmese r
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George friend of Burmese rebels, says Bhagwat
New Delhi, March 5, 2001
Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)
Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, sacked as Chief of Naval Staff by the present
Indian government on 30th December 1998, accused the Defence Minister
George Fernandes of being an active supporter of the Burmese militant
groups, which are fighting against the Junta. In his book ?Betrayal of
the Defence Forces?, which is released in New Delhi, the former Naval
Chief has accused that the Indian defence minister has had long interest
in gun running and narcotics operations in the North East India and had
many times met the leaders of the Burmese outfits.
?His friends included the leaders of the Kuki National Army. His home in
Delhi was already famous for harbouring Burmese students; a practice he
continued when he became Defence Minister, until it hit the press and
the Parliament. Sometimes these students were involved in the narcotics
trade and propaganda against the Government of Burma?, said the fomer
Naval Chief.
However, the Burmese students living in India had denied his allegations
of being involved in arms and narcotics smuggling.
In his book, Bhagwat has also alleged that the defence minister has
links with rebel groups based on Indo-Burma border. The two chapters of
the book: ?Anti-Gun Running Operations? and ?The Defence Minister? has
detailed these alleged links.
?Fernandes also met Vungzakap, a Burmese from Tiddin (Chin State), Head
of the Zomi Reunification Organization (ZRO), which had armed rebel
camps in Myanmar and North Mizoram and whose objective was a Zomi home
land extending to both sides of the border. Fernandes had promised
political support to him?.
He also accused that George Fernandes has close links with an Arakanese
armed group, the National United Party of Arakan (NUPA), which he says
is doing a gun-running business to the North East insurgent groups.
?In the aftermath of Operation Leech which was conducted in February
1998, as soon as the BJP led alliance formed a government, the
self-styled foreign minister of the Arakan Independence Army wrote to
Fernandes and thereafter reportedly met him in Calcutta. He assured the
leader that he would conduct an inquiry into Operation Leech..?.
The book is the latest attack of the former Naval Chief on the Indian
defence minister who is known for his sympathy and political support for
the Burmese student activists in India. Fernandes has several times
denied of aiding Northeastern and Burmese militants.
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<center><b><font color="#000099">George friend of Burmese rebels, says
Bhagwat</font></b></center>
<p>New Delhi, March 5, 2001
<br>Mizzima News Group (<a href="http://www.mizzima.com";>www.mizzima.com</a>)
<p><font color="#660000">Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, sacked as Chief of Naval
Staff by the present Indian government on 30th December 1998, accused the
Defence Minister George Fernandes of being an active supporter of the Burmese
militant groups, which are fighting against the Junta. In his book ?Betrayal
of the Defence Forces?, which is released in New Delhi, the former Naval
Chief has accused that the Indian defence minister has had long interest
in gun running and narcotics operations in the North East India and had
many times met the leaders of the Burmese outfits.</font>
<p><font color="#660000">?His friends included the leaders of the Kuki
National Army. His home in Delhi was already famous for harbouring Burmese
students; a practice he continued when he became Defence Minister, until
it hit the press and the Parliament. Sometimes these students were involved
in the narcotics trade and propaganda against the Government of Burma?,
said the fomer Naval Chief.</font>
<p><font color="#660000">However, the Burmese students living in India
had denied his allegations of being involved in arms and narcotics smuggling.</font>
<br><font color="#660000">In his book, Bhagwat has also alleged that the
defence minister has links with rebel groups based on Indo-Burma border.
The two chapters of the book: ?Anti-Gun Running Operations? and ?The Defence
Minister? has detailed these alleged links.</font>
<br><font color="#660000">?Fernandes also met Vungzakap, a Burmese from
Tiddin (Chin State), Head of the Zomi Reunification Organization (ZRO),
which had armed rebel camps in Myanmar and North Mizoram and whose objective
was a Zomi home land extending to both sides of the border. Fernandes had
promised political support to him?.</font>
<p><font color="#660000">He also accused that George Fernandes has close
links with an Arakanese armed group, the National United Party of Arakan
(NUPA), which he says is doing a gun-running business to the North East
insurgent groups.</font>
<p><font color="#660000">?In the aftermath of Operation Leech which was
conducted in February 1998, as soon as the BJP led alliance formed a government,
the self-styled foreign minister of the Arakan Independence Army wrote
to Fernandes and thereafter reportedly met him in Calcutta. He assured
the leader that he would conduct an inquiry into Operation Leech..?.</font>
<p><font color="#660000">The book is the latest attack of the former Naval
Chief on the Indian defence minister who is known for his sympathy and
political support for the Burmese student activists in India. Fernandes
has several times denied of aiding Northeastern and Burmese militants.</font>
<p> </html>
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