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Journalism of Courage
CALCUTTA, May 17: A Myanmarese rebel group, the National United Party of Arakan NUPA, has appealed Defence Minister George Fernandes for release of its activists captured by the Indian coast guard after a gun battle in the Bay of Bengal near the Andamans on February 11 and are now lodged in the Port Blair jail. It also urged him to see that the arrested rebels were not handed over to the Myanmarese authorities.
Six people were killed in the gun battle and 35 arrested from a ship which, the Army then said, was carrying arms for rebel groups in India8217;s north-east. A large quantity of arms and ammunition were also seized. In its letter to Fernandes late last month, the NUPA claimed that their men, who had been killed and captured in the Operation Leech8217;, were 8220;neither armed smugglers nor gun-runners to the anti-Indian N-E rebels.8221; The NUPA letter, signed by Khin Maung, in charge of foreign affairs8217;, describes the arrested men as its members who were 8220;carrying our own belongings for our Arakanindependence war against the Burmese colonists8221;.
NUPA also claims that the Indian authorities had been informed of the Arakan Army expedition8217; on February 8. 8220;Detailed lists of photos of combat and non-combat material and the list of men on board8221; were given to 8220;Col. Grewal of the Indian military intelligence8221;. It has sent the lists to Fernandes along with the letter.
The NUPA8217;s claim may prove embarrassing for India because it suggests that India was aiding and abetting a rebel group, particularly so in view of Fernandes8217;s recent outbursts on the Chinese surveillance activistsin the Myanmarese port in Coco Island.
Rebel group leaders are still confused as to why the Indian authorities launched the Operation Leech8217;, although it cooperated with the latter and informed them of the expedition in advance.
They claim, they maintained a quid pro quo with India 8211; they kept the Indian authorities informed of arms movements for north-east rebels along the sea route from south-east Asian countries in return for Indian help in their movement. Of the rebel groups in Myanmar, only NUPA operates in the sea. The NUPA leadership is believed to have approached the Indian authorities for clarification but without success. It now argues that either the Indian authorities made a 8220;huge blunder8221;, genuinely mistaking its ship for one carrying arms for the north-eastern rebels or India has 8220;betrayed8221; NUPA to build bridges with the Myanmarese junta.
