India Army should not commit again such kind of Operation Leech

21 years ago, the Indian army killed 6 Arakanese and Karen leaders and arrested many Arakanese soldiers in India's remote island of Andaman and Nicobar by luring them with a promise to offer an isolated island as their base. This incident was known as "Operation Leech" which India did only to appease then military junta of Burma. The Operation Leech has only brought disgrace on India as it caused the instability in the government and former Indian navy chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagawat had to resign from his post and many other army officers that took millions of dollars as bribes from the Burmese military intelligence service are still facing their trials.

I still remember that about 15 years ago, the BBC East India correspondence Mr. Subir Bhaumik said in a conference held in New Delhi that India had killed Arakanese leaders and arrested many Arakanese soldiers but China has never done such short-sighted act, by referring to the Operation Leech incident.

Yes, Subir's opinion was right. China never does such action against any of the ethnic revolutionary groups even though many ethnic nationalities armed forces are based and carrying out their struggles against the brutal Burmese junta in areas bordering China. It's like Mr. India likes a small bone and Mr. China wants to get a big pot of meat. That is the big difference between China and India and that's why India is always behind China. China instead used the situation to benefit its business empire and political power in the region. What India, as the world's biggest democratic nation gained from the notorious Operation Leech was nothing for Indian people, but shame.

If the Indian leaders didn't commit such a big mistake over 20 years ago, many innocent lives of Arakanese people would have been saved from the executions by the Burmese army. India might also be pocketing trillions of dollars worth of profits annually from every major business and economic plants from Arakan where the world's second largest natural gas deposit and other natural resources including oil, uranium, etc. exist. The direction of the gas pipeline currently connecting Kyauk Pyu and Kunming might have diverted to Guhawati or Kolkata.

My dream of seeing Arakanese people freed from the brutal oppression of the Burmese army, and their lives being developed using Indian technologies and also using the Indian rupees as their state currency have all disappeared with the destruction of Arakanese revolution by the Indian army.

Now, there is news on the internet about the possible joint operation of Indian army and Burma army against the new Arakan Army (AA). The Arakan Army is supported by the people of Arakan and they are fighting for equality and self-determination for the oppressed people, it does no harm to India or Indian people. Moreover, the Burma army is due to face the International Criminal Court (ICC) for its human rights violations to non-Burmese people so India will gain nothing by cooperating with Burma army that is committing rapes, killings, lootings and other inhuman crimes against the Arakanese and other non-Burmese people currently being colonized by the Burmese. The good image of Indian army will damage badly once again like in the last 20 years ago.

Even though we can't change the decision of greedy politicians, we can make our voices loud for the benefits of our country and our people. We should not allow our country name damage due to a few incorrupt people. One of the six AA leaders killed by the Indian army on 11th Feb, 1998 in Landfall Island was my own brother but I hold no grudge against India. I am fully aware of the fact that the bribery played a big role in the involvement of India army in Burma internal conflict.

So, I want to request my Indian friends to voice your concerns against the Indian army's support for the brutal, barbaric, notorious, and infamous Burma army and save the glorious image of the great Indian army.

AKK

"Jai Hind"
"Jai Arakan Army"

Please share and spread this message and save the Indian army from repeating the same mistake again as repeating it would only bring shame to the Nation and its people. It will also save the lives of innocent people from the brutal killing of Burma army in Arakan.

Photos: 1,2,3: The Arakan Army leaders with Indian army and intelligence officers in Indo-Arakan-Bangladesh border. The former 4: Former Arakan Army (Marine) members.

Credit-Akyab Kumar Khan