CM: Foreigners training Myanmar insurgents

Aizawl: Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma on Monday informed the state legislative assembly that foreigners, including those from US and UK, entered Myanmar via Mizoram and were engaged in arms training of the insurgent groups in the neighbouring country. One of them has been arrested for possession of live ammunition.The CM was referring to UK national Daniel Newey who was arrested with one live ammunition on June 19, 2024, at Lengpui airport and was booked under the Arms Act, 1959. He said some of those who entered Myanmar were earlier involved in the Russian-Ukraine war.Newey was, however, acquitted by the chief judicial magistrate of Aizawl district during mid-Feb this year.Replying to supplementary questions, Lalduhoma said the Centre re-imposed the protected area permit (PAP) in view of the prevailing situation in the Myanmar border states of the northeast. "Though our govt opposed re-imposition of the protected area regime (PAR), we cannot help but understand the concern of the Centre," he said. He said while nearly 2,000 foreigners visited Aizawl between June and Dec last year, they were never seen in the streets, attributing fears that their main intention might be to interfere in the internal affairs of Myanmar. The Centre has been closely watching the situation in the border areas as geopolitics has become more important with the involvement of China and the US in the conflicts of the region, he said. The recent one-day visit of Mizoram by the US ambassador to India without any prior intimation also came as a surprise to the state govt, he said.The ministry of home affairs (MHA) re-imposed the protected area regime (PAR) in Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram to monitor the movement of foreigners after it was initially relaxed for a year in 2010 in the three states bordering Myanmar and subsequently the duration of the order was extended for five years. The latest PAR order was issued on Dec 16, 2022, and was valid till Dec 2027 before it was revoked in Dec 2024.The MHA wrote to the chief secretaries of the three states withdrawing the relaxation in Dec last year. Now, foreigners visiting the three northeastern states would have to seek prior permission and special permits from the govt as used to be done before 2010 in accordance with the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958.
Stay updated with the latest city news, weather, and Air Quality Index (AQI) updates for major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Noida, and Bengaluru on Times of India.