The meeting was attended by representatives from India led by S. Singh, joint secretary in the Union home ministry, Myanmarese officials headed by U. Nay Wing, commander of the Chin state, H.N. Mishra, India’s ambassador to Yangon, S. Ranganathan, under-secretary in the external affairs ministry and Bijoy Kumar Bidhuri, deputy commissioner in Champhai district. Others from the Myanmarese side included Lt Col Kyuaw, director of police in Chin state, U. Klun Win, deputy commissioner of Falam district, and U. Janburboss, head of the immigration department.
According to sources in the Mizoram home department, the Myanmar administration also permitted Indian security forces to cross over into the Myanmarese side of the border, stretching along 404km, after obtaining permission from the Chkha army post commander.
Problems related to illegal transportation of weapons between the two countries were also raised in the border conference where it was decided that officials and security forces of both countries would help each other to curb such a menace.
While the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and UNLF guerrillas in Manipur seeking pastures on the Myanmar side of the border, security forces in Mizoram on the Indian side are sometimes perplexed by the unauthorised intrusion of Myanmarese militants like the Chin Liberation Army seeking sanctuary.
Both nations emphasised the need for co-operation between their troops to sort out operational and logistic problems relating to their fight against insurgents who have hideouts along the borders of the countries.
It was also decided to take the help of mobile phone systems including the CDMA facility to keep the troops of both countries informed about the movements of the infiltrating rebels on each other’s landmass.
The next meeting of the liaison officers is scheduled to be held in the first week of April next year to review the progress regarding the co-operation between the two countries for maintenance of peace and overall security.