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Bhutan reluctant to drive ULFA out

Bhutan is shying away from mounting a full-scale offensive to drive out the United Liberation Front of Asom and Bodo militants holed up in its territory fearing reprisals against its nationals in the North-Eastern states.

The royal Bhutan national assembly at its recently concluded session had discussed the matter at length and urged the government of the Himalayan kingdom to be cautious while launching a full-scale offensive.

Bhutan's official newspaper, The Kuensel, said the assembly has instead emphasised on cutting off the supply lines to ULFA camps and tracing out the suppliers.

Bhutan's home minister has informed the assembly that the militants who had infiltrated into Bhutan were attired in military uniforms and well-armed and had considerable resources.

The militant camps are located deep inside Bhutan while their relatives live across the border in Assam which has a population of over 25 million.

If any of the militants are killed in Bhutan, the Bhutanese security forces will be blamed for killing Indian citizens and all Bhutanese will face repercussions in Assam. Trade and communication links through Assam would also be closed and the kingdom's eighth plan development programmes would be severely disrupted.

Noting that the ULFA and Bodo militants could enter Bhutan only after crossing the border of Assam, the assembly resolved to urge the government of India to impose restrictions on their movement on the Indian side of the border.

UNI

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