The Hindu : National : 'Myanmar will not give refuge to anti-India militants'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 05, 2004

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'Myanmar will not give refuge to anti-India militants'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MAY 4. The Ambassador of Myanmar, U Kyi Thein, today referred to the historical, geographical and cultural linkages between Myanmar and India, making it clear that his country would not give refuge to the enemies of India.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the bilateral trade grew steadily in the 1990s and was worth $328 million in 1997-98, $428 million in 2001-2002 and touched the $480 million-mark in the last financial year.

The countries were keen on increasing bilateral trade volume to $ 1 billion by 2006, he said. Myanmar's principal exports were farm, marine and forest products, and the imports included construction and electrical products, chemical elements and compound and transport equipment and spares, apart from household goods.

The two countries had developed cooperation in various fields such as agriculture, communications and information technology, education, transportation and energy. The Kalay-Tamu highway project, the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral transport linkages, the Kalandan river project and the Tamanthi hydro-electric power projects were under process. Asked about reports suggesting attempts by members of certain militant outfits using Myanmar as their base for illegal operations in some of the north-eastern States, Mr. Thein said his country would not allow the enemies of India to operate from its soil.

On incidents of fishermen of the two countries straying into each other's territorial waters, he said the issue was sorted out through diplomatic channels.

Mr. Thein declared open the Buddhist Dhamma Hallat Padianallur in Thiruvallur district to mark Buddha Purnima. He also visited the transit camp at Puzhal, near here, for foreign fishermen who drifted into Indian waters. The camp is promoted by the Overseas Indians Organisation. He also met industrialists, exporters, importers and tourist operators.

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