Myanmar military using North East rebels to attack refugees

Anti-coup protesters run to avoid military forces during a demonstration in Yangon, Myanmar on Wednesday. PIC/AP/PTI

Myanmar military commanders, posted along the borders of Northeast India, are using separatist rebels from the region to attack refugees fleeing the Pagoda Nation after the February 1 coup.

Senior Indian intelligence officials said the local Tatmadaw (military) commanders have struck a deal with Manipuri rebel groups, UNLF and PLA, to carry out such attacks. "This may not be national policy but a tactical move by local commanders desperate to stop refugee flow into India. The deal is the UNLF and PLA factions with bases in Myanmar's Sagaing province will attack the refugee stragglers walking towards the Indian border and force them to return to their villages," a senior official said, on the condition of anonymity. "In turn, the Tatmadaw has assured the rebels they will not attack the PLA-UNLF bases inside Sagaing."

Burmese Opposition sources said that 12 refugees have been killed by the PLA and UNLF insurgents in the last one month. The Tatmadaw had started operating against the Northeast Indian rebel bases in Sagaing.

12
No of refugees killed by the PLA and UNLF insurgents

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