Daily News- June 23 - 2002- Sunday

  • India to talk with Burma over North East insurgents
  • Myanmar's Training Center to Begin Courses for Farmers

    • India to talk with Burma over North East insurgents

    Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

    Guwahati, June 23: Indian Defence Minister Mr. George Fernandes today informed that India would initiate fresh diplomatic talks with Burma to drive out the underground groups taking shelter in the country.

    Addressing a press conference this morning at Nagaon of Assam, the Defence Minister further said that the Indian Government is keeping a close watch on the prevailing situation along the Indo-Burma border in the wake of increasing militancy across the international border.

    "We want a peaceful solution to the problem as it has slowed down the developmental activities in the entire North East India", he added.

    Asked was there any possibility of joint military operation along the international border to flush out the militants, he said "India and Myanmar have achieved a remarkable progress in the field of trade during the last couple of years. Moreover, both the countries have come to an agreement to develop in the region by opening of more trade routes". In this context, the Defence minister revealed that Moreh of Manipur has become a major trade point between the countries and both India and Myanmar have been able to generate a huge chunk of revenue from the point . "If we want to improve our relations then we must lay stress on trade", Fernandes smugly said.

    On lack of forces along the Indo-Burma border, the Defence Minister asserted that the existing companies of Assam Rifles and Border Security Force (BSF) have been successful in containing militancy in the region. He however admitted that the perennial militancy problem has impeded the growth of development. The Defence Minister also appealed to the militant groups to shun the path of violence in the greater interest of the region .

    On possibility of action against the militant groups operating from different hideouts in the neighboring countries, Fernandes stated that the Indian Government has prepared an action plan to flush out the militants. He however refused to divulge any more in this regard. The Defence minister said that there is no possibility of withdrawing of army along the Indo-Pakistan border. Though, the infiltration has been dwindling along the Indo-Pakistan border, we will have to observe the situation, he added.

    Myanmar's Training Center to Begin Courses for Farmers

    YANGON, Jun 23, 2002 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- A new farmers' training center in northern Mandalay division of Myanmar, jointly built by Myanmar and South Korea, will start short-term, long-term and graduate studies level training programs by the end of the current rainy season (about October), an offical report said Sunday.The programs came after the building of the center was completed Saturday, said a report of the Myanmar Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.

    The Myanmar Canaan Farmers' Training Center in Pyin Oo Lwin township of the division was built by the Myanmar ministry and the Canaan Farmers' School of South Korea under a memorandum of understanding on mutual cooperation in technology signed in July 2000.The new center will conduct training programs in the field of agronomy including agricultural economy, agricultural research and agricultural engineering.

    Technical cooperation between Myanmar and South Korea will be carried out for the development and production of mushroom, apple, orange, tea, coffee, grape and ginseng in Myanmar.The cooperation will also cover transfer of technology and supply of planting materials, related equipment and agro-chemicals, the report said.

    The construction of the center, which occupies an area of 20.84 hectares, started in September 2001. It is aimed at improving the agricultural development and progress of agricultural technology in Myanmar through educating leading farmers.

    Agriculture is the mainstay of Myanmar's economy with more than 70 percent of its population engaged in farming. It accounts for about 43 percent of Myanmar's gross domestic product and 33 percent of its total export.

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