Chinese troops enter Sikkim sector, destroyed two bunkers
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http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/army-chief-in-belagavi/article19976232.ece
“The situation in Doklam has improved considerably. There is no eyeball to eyeball positioning of India-China troops,’’ Army Chief Bipin Rawat said in Belagavi on Friday.
He was speaking to presspersons after handing over the President’s Colours to the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre. “Indian forces are still in Doklam, but at a significant distance from the Chinese army,” he said.
Gen. Rawat refused to comment on reports of the Union government ordering an investigation into links of Pakistan in North Korea’s nuclear weapon efforts, saying it was an issue related to the External Affairs Ministry. However, any country’s development of use of nuclear weapons is bound to affect international relations, he said.
Jammu and Kashmir remains an inseparable part of India. It will remain so in future, he said. “Some foreign powers are instigating local youth to indulge in activities like stone pelting. A lot of hatred is being spread on social media tools now. But the army is effectively handling the situation.”
Gen. Rawat said a neighbouring country is facilitating illegal border crossing by infiltrators. That is a continuous process, but its frequency keeps changing, based on the situation. “The Indian army is taking several steps to control such events. We are using hi-tech tools to monitor and guard the borders.”
He denied that the armed forces were indulged in human rights violation. The Indian army is committed to protecting human rights. However, when some small incidents of violation are reported, the army takes strict action against the offenders, he said.
“The situation in Doklam has improved considerably. There is no eyeball to eyeball positioning of India-China troops,’’ Army Chief Bipin Rawat said in Belagavi on Friday.
He was speaking to presspersons after handing over the President’s Colours to the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre. “Indian forces are still in Doklam, but at a significant distance from the Chinese army,” he said.
Gen. Rawat refused to comment on reports of the Union government ordering an investigation into links of Pakistan in North Korea’s nuclear weapon efforts, saying it was an issue related to the External Affairs Ministry. However, any country’s development of use of nuclear weapons is bound to affect international relations, he said.
Jammu and Kashmir remains an inseparable part of India. It will remain so in future, he said. “Some foreign powers are instigating local youth to indulge in activities like stone pelting. A lot of hatred is being spread on social media tools now. But the army is effectively handling the situation.”
Gen. Rawat said a neighbouring country is facilitating illegal border crossing by infiltrators. That is a continuous process, but its frequency keeps changing, based on the situation. “The Indian army is taking several steps to control such events. We are using hi-tech tools to monitor and guard the borders.”
He denied that the armed forces were indulged in human rights violation. The Indian army is committed to protecting human rights. However, when some small incidents of violation are reported, the army takes strict action against the offenders, he said.
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Ministry of Defence
05-November, 2017 19:05 IST
Raksha Mantri Visits Forward Army & Airforce Bases in Assam & Arunachal Pradesh
Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman visited the forward Army posts in Arunachal Pradesh and Air Force base in Eastern Assam today. The visit to the forward army and Air Force bases followed her visits to Bomdilla and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh yesterday, where she attended the inauguration ceremony of the Buddha Mahotsav 2017 and called on the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh at Raj Bhawan in Itanagar. In today’s visit to the forward army post of Kibithu in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, which is in continuation with her visits to forward areas along the Line of Actual Control, she was accompanied by Lt Gen Abhay Krishna, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, GOC-in-C, Eastern Command and other senior officers of the Indian Army.
The minister was briefed on the situation and defence preparedness along the Line of Actual Control. She also interacted with the troops and appreciated their dedication to the service and efforts in such a remote and inhospitable terrain. As part of this visit the Raksha Mantri also visited the important Eastern air base of Chabua, where she was received by Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar VM, Senior Air Staff Officer HQ Eastern Air Command, and Air Commodore George Thomas VM, AOC, Air Force Station Chabua. During the visit she took stock of the operational preparedness and infrastructure development of the base. The strategic base presented a static display of the combat assets available at the station to the Defence minister, which included the Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft and modern Missiles. She also interacted with Air Force personnel serving in this eastern most region of our nation and had lunch with the air warriors. She complimented the air warriors for their professional approach and commitment in the service of the nation. She appreciated the operational readiness, ongoing infrastructure development and the high morale of the Air Force personnel at the base.
*****
05-November, 2017 19:05 IST
Raksha Mantri Visits Forward Army & Airforce Bases in Assam & Arunachal Pradesh
Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman visited the forward Army posts in Arunachal Pradesh and Air Force base in Eastern Assam today. The visit to the forward army and Air Force bases followed her visits to Bomdilla and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh yesterday, where she attended the inauguration ceremony of the Buddha Mahotsav 2017 and called on the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh at Raj Bhawan in Itanagar. In today’s visit to the forward army post of Kibithu in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, which is in continuation with her visits to forward areas along the Line of Actual Control, she was accompanied by Lt Gen Abhay Krishna, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, GOC-in-C, Eastern Command and other senior officers of the Indian Army.
The minister was briefed on the situation and defence preparedness along the Line of Actual Control. She also interacted with the troops and appreciated their dedication to the service and efforts in such a remote and inhospitable terrain. As part of this visit the Raksha Mantri also visited the important Eastern air base of Chabua, where she was received by Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar VM, Senior Air Staff Officer HQ Eastern Air Command, and Air Commodore George Thomas VM, AOC, Air Force Station Chabua. During the visit she took stock of the operational preparedness and infrastructure development of the base. The strategic base presented a static display of the combat assets available at the station to the Defence minister, which included the Sukhoi 30 MKI fighter aircraft and modern Missiles. She also interacted with Air Force personnel serving in this eastern most region of our nation and had lunch with the air warriors. She complimented the air warriors for their professional approach and commitment in the service of the nation. She appreciated the operational readiness, ongoing infrastructure development and the high morale of the Air Force personnel at the base.
*****
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The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman at the inauguration ceremony of the Buddha Mohotsava 2017, at Budha Stadium, Bomdila, West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh on November 04, 2017. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju is also seen.
The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman addressing at the Buddha Mohotsava 2017, at Budha Stadium, Bomdila, West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh on November 04, 2017.
The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju at the Buddha Mohotsava 2017, at Budha Stadium, Bomdila, West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh on November 04, 2017.
The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman with the Defence Secretary, Shri Sanjay Mitra & Army Officers, at Forward post of Kibithu, in Arunachal Pradesh on November 05, 2017.
The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman interacting with the officers & Jawans, at Kibithu, in Arunachal Pradesh on November 05, 2017.
The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman with the Air warriors, at Airforce Station, Chabua, in Assam on November 05, 2017.
The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman calling on the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Brigadier (Retd.) (Dr.) B.D. Mishra, at Raj Bhavan, Itanagar on November 04, 2017.
The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman addressing at the Buddha Mohotsava 2017, at Budha Stadium, Bomdila, West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh on November 04, 2017.
The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju at the Buddha Mohotsava 2017, at Budha Stadium, Bomdila, West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh on November 04, 2017.
The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman with the Defence Secretary, Shri Sanjay Mitra & Army Officers, at Forward post of Kibithu, in Arunachal Pradesh on November 05, 2017.
The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman interacting with the officers & Jawans, at Kibithu, in Arunachal Pradesh on November 05, 2017.
The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman with the Air warriors, at Airforce Station, Chabua, in Assam on November 05, 2017.
The Union Minister for Defence, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman calling on the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Brigadier (Retd.) (Dr.) B.D. Mishra, at Raj Bhavan, Itanagar on November 04, 2017.
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Indian army soldiers march near an army base on Tezpur-Tawang highway.(Reuters File Photo)
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http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...as-backyard/article20446029.ece?homepage=true
PM Modi, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila on Tuesday.
Highlights convergence with Quad nations
Displaying convergence of interests with the new quadrilateral grouping with U.S., Japan and Australia, India on Tuesday reached out to China’s backyard, addressing an array of issues ranging from the tension in the Korean peninsula to freedom of navigation and sought a crackdown on chemical weapons during the ASEAN and the East Asia summits. A high-level Indian official told The Hindu that New Delhi has emerged as a more dependable partner for South-East Asia following the Doklam faceoff with China, and indicated that the South-East Asian countries expect New Delhi to be assertive with Beijing. “The Doklam standoff was keenly observed by the countries in the SouthEast Asian region that have been absorbing the impact of China’s assertiveness. But the outcome of the Doklam crisis has shown that India has reached a stage where it can be a resilient strategic and defence partner for them,” said the official.
The explanation of India’s post-Doklam international image acquires significance in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s one-on-one meeting with Premier Li Keqiang that was held on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit on Tuesday.
Following the meeting the MEA spokesperson took to social media to announce that the meeting signified, “two neighbours in deep conversation.”
Elaborating on the counter-China angle, the high-level official said the Southeast Asian region had been facing uncertainties following the exit of President Barack Obama as he took visible interest in the region.
However, the latest visits by the leaders of the quadrilateral countries, including by the new U.S. Presdient Donald Trump have once again assured support to these countries as they face China’s commercial and military domination.
In this context, he said the fundamental change in India’s foreign affairs is in its embrace of the big ticket issues of East Asia like the North Korean nuclear crisis as well.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared concerns of DPRK’s pursuit of missiles and nuclear weapons and called for complete verification and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. He also said that North Korea’s proliferation links must be investigated and the parties who have supported these unlawful programmes must be made accountable,” Preeti Saran, Secretary in charge of eastern ties in the Ministry of External Affairs said at a media briefing explaining India’s position.
The issue of North Korea’s has been mentioned in the press statement of the United States following first official level discussion of the ‘Quad’ held on 12 November here.
The anonymous Indian official said that taking up of North Korean threats was part of a new Indian set of concerns that also covers major global issues like terrorism by the Islamic State and its capability to inflict mass casualties, and tensions in the South China Sea that concern the world as well as India.
“The North Korean nuclear missiles are not just problematic for the U.S., but for the entire world, including us, as Pyongyang’s missiles are capable of hitting targets in different parts of the world,” said the diplomat.
The situation in the South China Sea also featured in the statement of Prime Minister Modi in the ASEAN who asked for upholding of the ‘rules based regional security architecture’, an expression often described to refer to China’s opposition to adhere to the UN laws of the seas (UNCLOS).
The official source elaborated that India remains concerned about China’s manmade structures in the South China Sea that are likely to create navigational problems and international friction and said, “As of now there is a jockeying for power between the US and China that is going on in South China Sea but in future we anticipate that identification (of vessels or aircraft) can be raised by the other (Chinese) side,” he said.
India also pushed for a total ban on chemical weapons in the region and for an end to terrorist financing. “The biggest issue facing counter-terror efforts has been the inability of powerful countries to stop flow of funds to the terror groups,” said the diplomat elaborating that the agreements on terror financing, chemical weapons and de-radicalisation adopted at the East Asia Summit will help the region cope with the threat of terrorism effectively in future.
PM Modi, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila on Tuesday.
Highlights convergence with Quad nations
Displaying convergence of interests with the new quadrilateral grouping with U.S., Japan and Australia, India on Tuesday reached out to China’s backyard, addressing an array of issues ranging from the tension in the Korean peninsula to freedom of navigation and sought a crackdown on chemical weapons during the ASEAN and the East Asia summits. A high-level Indian official told The Hindu that New Delhi has emerged as a more dependable partner for South-East Asia following the Doklam faceoff with China, and indicated that the South-East Asian countries expect New Delhi to be assertive with Beijing. “The Doklam standoff was keenly observed by the countries in the SouthEast Asian region that have been absorbing the impact of China’s assertiveness. But the outcome of the Doklam crisis has shown that India has reached a stage where it can be a resilient strategic and defence partner for them,” said the official.
The explanation of India’s post-Doklam international image acquires significance in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s one-on-one meeting with Premier Li Keqiang that was held on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit on Tuesday.
Following the meeting the MEA spokesperson took to social media to announce that the meeting signified, “two neighbours in deep conversation.”
Elaborating on the counter-China angle, the high-level official said the Southeast Asian region had been facing uncertainties following the exit of President Barack Obama as he took visible interest in the region.
However, the latest visits by the leaders of the quadrilateral countries, including by the new U.S. Presdient Donald Trump have once again assured support to these countries as they face China’s commercial and military domination.
In this context, he said the fundamental change in India’s foreign affairs is in its embrace of the big ticket issues of East Asia like the North Korean nuclear crisis as well.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared concerns of DPRK’s pursuit of missiles and nuclear weapons and called for complete verification and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. He also said that North Korea’s proliferation links must be investigated and the parties who have supported these unlawful programmes must be made accountable,” Preeti Saran, Secretary in charge of eastern ties in the Ministry of External Affairs said at a media briefing explaining India’s position.
The issue of North Korea’s has been mentioned in the press statement of the United States following first official level discussion of the ‘Quad’ held on 12 November here.
The anonymous Indian official said that taking up of North Korean threats was part of a new Indian set of concerns that also covers major global issues like terrorism by the Islamic State and its capability to inflict mass casualties, and tensions in the South China Sea that concern the world as well as India.
“The North Korean nuclear missiles are not just problematic for the U.S., but for the entire world, including us, as Pyongyang’s missiles are capable of hitting targets in different parts of the world,” said the diplomat.
The situation in the South China Sea also featured in the statement of Prime Minister Modi in the ASEAN who asked for upholding of the ‘rules based regional security architecture’, an expression often described to refer to China’s opposition to adhere to the UN laws of the seas (UNCLOS).
The official source elaborated that India remains concerned about China’s manmade structures in the South China Sea that are likely to create navigational problems and international friction and said, “As of now there is a jockeying for power between the US and China that is going on in South China Sea but in future we anticipate that identification (of vessels or aircraft) can be raised by the other (Chinese) side,” he said.
India also pushed for a total ban on chemical weapons in the region and for an end to terrorist financing. “The biggest issue facing counter-terror efforts has been the inability of powerful countries to stop flow of funds to the terror groups,” said the diplomat elaborating that the agreements on terror financing, chemical weapons and de-radicalisation adopted at the East Asia Summit will help the region cope with the threat of terrorism effectively in future.
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Kupup in Sikkim, the closest point to the Doklam plateau. Doklam-like issues will not be tolerated anymore and will elicit a stronger response, a Chinese analyst has said. Photo: Special Arrangement
http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...es-squarely/article20460346.ece?homepage=true
Says China doesn’t want “a full-blown conflict,” but there will be no compromise on “sovereignty, territorial integrity and core interests”
China will handle more “squarely” issues such as Doklam and not adopt the past approach of trying to shelve differences, a Chinese expert said on Wednesday.
The expert with China’s leading think-tank also said that Beijing would not compromise on the issues safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity and core interests.
‘We will always be assertive’
“When safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity and core interests, we will always be assertive and strong because there is no room for compromise on these issues,” said Yuan Peng, Vice President at the China Institutes for Contemporary International Relations.
Asked if he meant that China will deal strongly on issues like Doklam, Mr. Yuan said: “It will depend really on what kind of crisis it is. It will depend on the situation.
“In the past, we thought we would shelve differences. Now, we will face them squarely. Because even if we agree to shelve differences, the other party might not agree to do so. So we now face these problems head on, and safeguard our legitimate interests. But we will do this in an incremental way,” he said.
India and China were locked in a two-month military stand-off at Doklam in the Sikkim section of their border. The crisis ended in August, with both sides retreating from the point of the face-off.
China’s interests supreme?
Mr. Yuan was talking to journalists on China’s foreign policy in the next five years.
“Indeed, as far as protecting our interests on sovereignty and ensuring a stable and peaceful periphery are concerned, it is not so easy to strike a balance. No country will seek a peaceful external environment at the cost of its own interests.
“President Xi talked about peaceful development and also that we will never allow actions that hurt China’s interests,” Mr. Yuan added.
He said China did not want conflict with India but will defend its territory strongly if the need arose.
“This relationship is as important as other major country relations such as China and Russia. It is not something that China and India want to see. Both are rapidly emerging countries and partners within BRICS. We want to see the rise of the two countries like brothers.
‘Both sides should learn the lesson’
“The last thing we want to see is a full-blown conflict. Both sides should learn the lesson that we don’t need to fight and that we should take Sino-Indian relations on a strategic high, like the China-Russia relationship.
“These issues should be handled in a proper way rather than letting them hijack bilateral relationship. We need more comprehensive mechanisms and dialogue,” Mr. Yuan added.
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Anti-aircraft artillery systems attached to an air-defense brigade under the PLA 78th Group Army deploy guns at simulated aerial targets during an actual combat training exercise on the Horqin Grassland in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Nov. 11, 2017. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Chen Wei, Zhang Bian and Yang Donglong)
An HQ-7B low-altitude surface-to-air missiles system attached to an air-defense brigade under the PLA 78th Group Army fires its anti-aircraft missile at a simulated ultra low altitude target during an actual combat training exercise on the Horqin Grassland in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Nov. 11, 2017. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Chen Wei, Zhang Bian and Yang Donglong)
PG-59 anti-aircraft artillery systems attached to an air-defense brigade under the PLA 78th Group Army conduct a salvo of 57mm guns at simulated aerial targets during an actual combat training exercise on the Horqin Grassland in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Nov. 11, 2017. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Chen Wei, Zhang Bian and Yang Donglong)
A flamethrower operator assigned to the chemical defense troops of a combined brigade with the 73rd Group Army of the PLA Army uses a flamethrower to ignite a controlled fire to burn down the simulated targets during the offensive operation drill on November 15, 2017. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Pang Xiangchuan)
An HQ-7B low-altitude surface-to-air missiles system attached to an air-defense brigade under the PLA 78th Group Army fires its anti-aircraft missile at a simulated ultra low altitude target during an actual combat training exercise on the Horqin Grassland in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Nov. 11, 2017. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Chen Wei, Zhang Bian and Yang Donglong)
PG-59 anti-aircraft artillery systems attached to an air-defense brigade under the PLA 78th Group Army conduct a salvo of 57mm guns at simulated aerial targets during an actual combat training exercise on the Horqin Grassland in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Nov. 11, 2017. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Chen Wei, Zhang Bian and Yang Donglong)
A flamethrower operator assigned to the chemical defense troops of a combined brigade with the 73rd Group Army of the PLA Army uses a flamethrower to ignite a controlled fire to burn down the simulated targets during the offensive operation drill on November 15, 2017. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Pang Xiangchuan)
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http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/uttarakhand/aerial-survey-along-indo-china-border/498997.html
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, November 16
Lt Gen B S Negi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command, conducted an aerial survey at Gunji in Pithoragarh district that falls along the Indo-China border. The survey assumes significance taking into account the Chinese incursions witnessed in the past in the neighbouring Chamoli district.
Lt Gen Negi reached Gunji and visited the forward areas. He also met jawans and took first-hand knowledge of the operational matters and deployment of troops. He was satisfaction with the level of preparedness on part of the Army units. Earlier, Lt Gen Negi had landed at Naini Sani airstrip to reach Pithoragarh Cantt, where he was welcomed by Infantry Brigade officials.
Gunji holds much significance as it is used for the Indo-China local trade. Lt Gen Negi had also come on a two-day visit to the forward areas of Uttarakhand in May.
Tribune News Service
Dehradun, November 16
Lt Gen B S Negi, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Command, conducted an aerial survey at Gunji in Pithoragarh district that falls along the Indo-China border. The survey assumes significance taking into account the Chinese incursions witnessed in the past in the neighbouring Chamoli district.
Lt Gen Negi reached Gunji and visited the forward areas. He also met jawans and took first-hand knowledge of the operational matters and deployment of troops. He was satisfaction with the level of preparedness on part of the Army units. Earlier, Lt Gen Negi had landed at Naini Sani airstrip to reach Pithoragarh Cantt, where he was welcomed by Infantry Brigade officials.
Gunji holds much significance as it is used for the Indo-China local trade. Lt Gen Negi had also come on a two-day visit to the forward areas of Uttarakhand in May.
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http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...-border-row/story-b9cNTTq2fGybspKQTNc2gP.html
The last time General Bipin Rawat visited the soldiers was in June, while the standoff was still on.
india Updated: Dec 04, 2017 21:10 IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Army chief General Bipin Singh Rawat speaks at a seminar titled ‘Future Armoured Vehicles India-2017’ at the DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi recently. (PTI File)
Army chief General Bipin Rawat made a low-profile trip to the Sikkim border last week to meet soldiers involved in a 73-day border standoff with Chinese troops at Doklam earlier this year.
HT has learnt that Rawat spent a significant part of Saturday with Indian soldiers deployed in the sensitive sector. The last time he visited them was in June, while the standoff was still on.
The Doklam face-off ended on August 28, after both India and China agreed to pull back their troops. Bejing removed its road-laying equipment from the area too.
The neighbouring country had accused India of trespassing and preventing its troops from building a road in the remote Himalayan plateau, which is claimed by both China and Bhutan. However, a repeat of the summer standoff cannot be ruled out.
In September, a reputed defence think tank observed that the Doklam standoff between India and China was likely to be the new normal. It made a strong case for building military capabilities, considering that China “respects strength”.
In a paper titled Looking Beyond Doklam, the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) said it was crucial for India to demonstrate its strength because peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) will be “constantly and continuously” under stress with “a rise in frequency, intensity and depth of (Chinese) transgressions, leading to more and more standoffs”.
The paper was authored by CENJOWS director Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (retd). Bhatia was the director general of military operations when India and China were locked in a tense border standoff at Depsang in Ladakh four years ago. He also commanded the Siliguri-based HQs 33 Corps, which controls the Sikkim sector.
The paper said the dual command and control structure — the LAC is manned by both the Army and the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) — was a recipe for disaster because “conflicting directions can emanate from the controlling ministries”.
While the ITBP is controlled by the home ministry, the Army comes under its defence counterpart. Bhatia recommended that the ITBP be placed under the Army’s command, so as to avoid “competition and conflict” situations.
The last time General Bipin Rawat visited the soldiers was in June, while the standoff was still on.
india Updated: Dec 04, 2017 21:10 IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Army chief General Bipin Singh Rawat speaks at a seminar titled ‘Future Armoured Vehicles India-2017’ at the DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi recently. (PTI File)
Army chief General Bipin Rawat made a low-profile trip to the Sikkim border last week to meet soldiers involved in a 73-day border standoff with Chinese troops at Doklam earlier this year.
HT has learnt that Rawat spent a significant part of Saturday with Indian soldiers deployed in the sensitive sector. The last time he visited them was in June, while the standoff was still on.
The Doklam face-off ended on August 28, after both India and China agreed to pull back their troops. Bejing removed its road-laying equipment from the area too.
The neighbouring country had accused India of trespassing and preventing its troops from building a road in the remote Himalayan plateau, which is claimed by both China and Bhutan. However, a repeat of the summer standoff cannot be ruled out.
In September, a reputed defence think tank observed that the Doklam standoff between India and China was likely to be the new normal. It made a strong case for building military capabilities, considering that China “respects strength”.
In a paper titled Looking Beyond Doklam, the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) said it was crucial for India to demonstrate its strength because peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) will be “constantly and continuously” under stress with “a rise in frequency, intensity and depth of (Chinese) transgressions, leading to more and more standoffs”.
The paper was authored by CENJOWS director Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia (retd). Bhatia was the director general of military operations when India and China were locked in a tense border standoff at Depsang in Ladakh four years ago. He also commanded the Siliguri-based HQs 33 Corps, which controls the Sikkim sector.
The paper said the dual command and control structure — the LAC is manned by both the Army and the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) — was a recipe for disaster because “conflicting directions can emanate from the controlling ministries”.
While the ITBP is controlled by the home ministry, the Army comes under its defence counterpart. Bhatia recommended that the ITBP be placed under the Army’s command, so as to avoid “competition and conflict” situations.
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Ministry of Defence
07-December, 2017 12:36 IST
In response to the media article of 07 Dec 17 by Xinhua News Agency:
“An Indian UAV which was on a regular training mission inside the Indian territory lost contact with the ground control due to some technical problem and crossed over the LAC in the Sikkim Sector. As per standard protocol, the Indian border security personnel immediately alerted their Chinese counterparts to locate the UAV. In response, the Chinese side reverted with the location details of the UAV. The exact cause of the incident is under investigation. The matter is being dealt with in accordance with the established protocols through institutional mechanisms to deal with situations along the India- China border areas.”
Col Aman Anand
(Release ID :174158)
http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...hinese-side/article21289559.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi says the UAV was on a regular training mission and crossed over the LAC in the Sikkim Sector after developing a glitch.
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the Indian Army that crashed into the Chinese side of the border was on a regular training mission and lost contact with ground control due to technical problem, the Ministry of Defence said in New Delhi. In a statement, it also claimed that “as per standard protocol, the Indian border security personnel immediately alerted their Chinese counterparts to locate the UAV”.
The Indian clarification came in the wake of China’s defence ministry accusing India of violating its airspace. “The Indian move violated China's territorial sovereignty. We strongly express our dissatisfaction and opposition," deputy director of the Chinese Army’s western theatre combat bureau Zhang Shuil, said in a statement.
In response, the Indian side said, “An Indian UAV which was on a regular training mission inside the Indian territory lost contact with the ground control due to some technical problem and crossed over the LAC [Line of Actual Control] in the Sikkim Sector.”
The MoD said the Chinese side reverted with the location details of the UAV. The exact cause of the incident is under investigation.
An MOD spokesperson said, “The matter is being dealt with in accordance with the established protocols through institutional mechanisms to deal with situations along the India- China border areas.”
PTI adds:
China’s protest
Earlier, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing in Beijing that “an Indian UAV invaded China’s airspace and crashed in the Sikkim section of the China-India border”. He said the Chinese border troops had taken a “professional and responsible attitude” to verify the device.
“I want to point out that the Sikkim section of the China India border has been delimited,” he said, in an apparent reference to the 1890 China-British Treaty.
Mr. Geng did not spell out when the incident took place.
“The action of the Indian side violated China’s sovereignty and it is not conducive to the peace and tranquillity of the border area and China is dissatisfied with this and lodged solemn representation with the Indian side,” Mr. Geng said.
In a diplomatic protest to India, “China asked the Indian side to stop the activities of the devices near the border and work with China to maintain peace and tranquillity of the border areas”, he said.
Mr. Geng refused to not confirm if the incident took place near Doklam, where the two countries were locked in a 73-day-long border standoff that ended on August 28.
07-December, 2017 12:36 IST
In response to the media article of 07 Dec 17 by Xinhua News Agency:
“An Indian UAV which was on a regular training mission inside the Indian territory lost contact with the ground control due to some technical problem and crossed over the LAC in the Sikkim Sector. As per standard protocol, the Indian border security personnel immediately alerted their Chinese counterparts to locate the UAV. In response, the Chinese side reverted with the location details of the UAV. The exact cause of the incident is under investigation. The matter is being dealt with in accordance with the established protocols through institutional mechanisms to deal with situations along the India- China border areas.”
Col Aman Anand
(Release ID :174158)
http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...hinese-side/article21289559.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi says the UAV was on a regular training mission and crossed over the LAC in the Sikkim Sector after developing a glitch.
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of the Indian Army that crashed into the Chinese side of the border was on a regular training mission and lost contact with ground control due to technical problem, the Ministry of Defence said in New Delhi. In a statement, it also claimed that “as per standard protocol, the Indian border security personnel immediately alerted their Chinese counterparts to locate the UAV”.
The Indian clarification came in the wake of China’s defence ministry accusing India of violating its airspace. “The Indian move violated China's territorial sovereignty. We strongly express our dissatisfaction and opposition," deputy director of the Chinese Army’s western theatre combat bureau Zhang Shuil, said in a statement.
In response, the Indian side said, “An Indian UAV which was on a regular training mission inside the Indian territory lost contact with the ground control due to some technical problem and crossed over the LAC [Line of Actual Control] in the Sikkim Sector.”
The MoD said the Chinese side reverted with the location details of the UAV. The exact cause of the incident is under investigation.
An MOD spokesperson said, “The matter is being dealt with in accordance with the established protocols through institutional mechanisms to deal with situations along the India- China border areas.”
PTI adds:
China’s protest
Earlier, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing in Beijing that “an Indian UAV invaded China’s airspace and crashed in the Sikkim section of the China-India border”. He said the Chinese border troops had taken a “professional and responsible attitude” to verify the device.
“I want to point out that the Sikkim section of the China India border has been delimited,” he said, in an apparent reference to the 1890 China-British Treaty.
Mr. Geng did not spell out when the incident took place.
“The action of the Indian side violated China’s sovereignty and it is not conducive to the peace and tranquillity of the border area and China is dissatisfied with this and lodged solemn representation with the Indian side,” Mr. Geng said.
In a diplomatic protest to India, “China asked the Indian side to stop the activities of the devices near the border and work with China to maintain peace and tranquillity of the border areas”, he said.
Mr. Geng refused to not confirm if the incident took place near Doklam, where the two countries were locked in a 73-day-long border standoff that ended on August 28.
Last edited:
Hindustani78
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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi exchange greetings before a meeting in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: @MEAIndia
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...inese-counterpart-wang-yi/article21389665.ece
PTI New Delhi, December 11, 2017 12:20 IST
Updated: December 11, 2017 12:46 IST
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in New Delhi to attend the Russia-India-China trilateral meeting.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday held talks with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on key bilateral issues.
According to sources, all issues of mutual interest were discussed between the two leaders.
This is the first high-level visit from China after the Doklam standoff this summer.
Mr. Wang is in New Delhi to attend the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral meeting.
He will also attending an India-China cultural event in the evening.
The Foreign Ministers of Russia, India and China are in New Delhi to deliberate on a range of pressing regional and global issues, including ways to tackle the threat of terrorism and extremism, at the key meeting of the grouping.
*************
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. File | Photo Credit: Getty Images
http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...-india-china-ties-wang-yi/article21389620.ece
India-China strategic interests outweigh differences and “partial friction”, says the Chinese Foreign Minister
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said India and China’s strategic interests outweigh “partial frictions” and handling of the Doklam standoff through diplomatic means reflects the importance of bilateral ties.
Ahead of his visit to India to attend the Russia-India-China (RIC) Foreign Ministers’ meeting to be held in New Delhi on Monday, during which he would also hold talks with top Indian officials, Mr. Wang said China always values good neighbourliness and friendship between the two countries as “we are each other’s big neighbours and ancient civilisations.”
He said India-China strategic interests outweigh differences and “partial friction.”
“We have handled the issue of cross-border incursions by the Indian border troops into China’s Donglang [Doklam] area through diplomatic measures,” Mr. Wang told a symposium here last week, maintaining Beijing’s stand.
“Through diplomatic means, the Indian side withdrew its equipment and personnel which reflected the value and importance of China-India relations and demonstrated sincerity and responsibility of maintaining regional peace and stability,” he said in his speech in Chinese posted on the website of the Foreign Ministry.
“China and India have far greater shared strategic interests than differences, and far greater needs for cooperation than partial friction,” he said.
As long as China and India continue to engage in in-depth strategic communication and promptly dispel strategic misgivings, the strategic value of bilateral cooperation will be presented more clearly to the people, there will be a “prospect of the dragon and the elephant dancing together with 1 + 1 = 11 outlook,” Mr. Wang said.
The references to India by Mr. Wang were part of a lengthy speech about China’s diplomatic achievements in 2017 and its relations this year with various countries including the U.S., Russia, Japan and countries in the disputed South China Sea region.
Boundary talks
Mr. Wang’s visit to New Delhi is the first by a top Chinese official to India after the 73-day Doklam standoff and after the commencement of the second five-year term of President Xi Jinping.
The over two-month Doklam standoff ended on August 28 after Chinese troops stopped building a key road close to India’s ‘Chicken Neck’ corridor. India had objected to the construction highlighting its security concerns. The road was being built by China in an area also claimed by Bhutan.
Mr. Wang’s visit to Delhi is expected to be followed by top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi’s trip later this month to attend the 20th round of China-India boundary talks.
Mr. Yang, along with National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, is the designated special representatives for the border talks later this month. Both officials are also mandated to discuss the state of entire gamut of bilateral ties.
Foreign policy
In his address, at the symposium themed on international developments and China’s diplomacy in 2017, Mr. Wang spoke about China’s foreign policy outlook enunciated by the once-in-five-years Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) held in October.
The 19th CPC National Congress had charted the course for China’s external relations. Mr. Wang said China needs to create a more favourable external environment and stronger external impetus to create a moderately prosperous society in all respects.
“For China’s diplomacy in the new era, we will take a longer and broader perspective and be even more open-minded and resourceful,” he said.
He reiterated that “war is by no means acceptable” in dealing with the nuclear issue related to North Korea, stressing that the possibility of negotiations remains.
On ties with the U.S., he said “China is willing, on the basis of mutual respect, to live peacefully with the American superpower. The U.S. needs to understand and accept a China that is following its own path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, one suited to its own conditions,” official media quoted him as saying.
He said the China-Russia relationship has become a major cornerstone for world peace and stability, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation.
On the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) he said it has become “the most popular international public goods programme.”
Chinese businesses have invested over $50 billion and created nearly 2,00,000 local jobs in countries that are participating, he said.
India has objected to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as it traverses through Azad Kashmir (Azad Kashmir). CPEC is a part of the BRI.
Face-to-face communication
On Mr. Wang’s visit to Delhi, Chinese think tanks said RIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting offers Beijing and New Delhi an opportunity for face-to-face communication, which will effectively help both sides step out of the shadow of the Doklam standoff.
“Admittedly, the past months have witnessed a downbeat narrative between the neighbours rather than a positive one, but with the meeting, China and India will send a message to the world that they will return to a stable and peaceful track,” said Qian Feng, an analyst at the Chinese Association for South Asian Studies told state-run Global Times.
China and India have disagreements on counter-terrorism especially when it involves Pakistan, and China is unlikely to give up its stance on this issue during this meeting, Wang Dehua, head of the Institute for South and Central Asian Studies, told the daily.
China has opposed India’s moves to get Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) leader Masood Azhar listed as a terrorist by the U.N.
Mr. Wang Dehua also said persistent and honest talks between the two sides may help sort out differences on BRI.
China also continues to oppose India’s bid to enter the NSG primarily on the grounds that New Delhi is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
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Hindustani78
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Ministry of Defence
13-December, 2017 14:37 IST
RRM visits Army & Air force formations in Eastern Assam
Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr Subhash Bhamre continuing with his visits to formations deployed along the line of actual control, visited the Dao Division HQ at Dinjan in Eastern Assam. He was accompanied by GOC Spear Corps Lt Gen Anil Chouhan and other senior officers of the Army. The Minister was briefed by GOC Dao Division Maj Gen Gajendra Singh about the situation and defence preparedness along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, insurgency situation in Eastern Assam and progress on infrastructure development in the region. He also visited the Heritage Hall in Dinjan Military Station, which showcases the glorious past of the Dao Division and rich heritage and culture of upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The two-day visit of Dr. Bhamre concluded with Air Force Station Chabua in Eastern Assam where he interacted with the Air Warriors.
13-December, 2017 14:37 IST
RRM visits Army & Air force formations in Eastern Assam
Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr Subhash Bhamre continuing with his visits to formations deployed along the line of actual control, visited the Dao Division HQ at Dinjan in Eastern Assam. He was accompanied by GOC Spear Corps Lt Gen Anil Chouhan and other senior officers of the Army. The Minister was briefed by GOC Dao Division Maj Gen Gajendra Singh about the situation and defence preparedness along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh, insurgency situation in Eastern Assam and progress on infrastructure development in the region. He also visited the Heritage Hall in Dinjan Military Station, which showcases the glorious past of the Dao Division and rich heritage and culture of upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The two-day visit of Dr. Bhamre concluded with Air Force Station Chabua in Eastern Assam where he interacted with the Air Warriors.
Hindustani78
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http://www.deccanherald.com/content/648694/india-china-still-differ-doklam.html
DH News Service, New Delhi, Dec 17 2017, 20:34 IST
Beijing has been firm on its view that the recent stand-off in Doklam Plateau has been out of the purview of the special representatives appointed by China and India to negotiate a settlement of the disputed boundary.
Though the boundary negotiators of India and China will meet soon, they still have differences on whether their mandate will allow them to discuss the recent military face-off in Doklam Plateau.
The special representatives of India and China - Prime Minister Narendra Modi's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi - are set to hold the 20th round of boundary negotiations soon.
This is going to be the first meeting between the chief interlocutors of New Delhi and Beijing after the 72-day-long military face-off in Doklam Plateau brought China's boundary disputes with both Bhutan and India under renewed focus.New Delhi and Beijing, however, are still not on the same page on whether the mandate of the special representatives for boundary negotiations will include negotiation over the dispute in Sikkim sector of the India-China border – the scene of the latest face-off, sources told DH.
Beijing has been firm on its view that the recent stand-off in Doklam Plateau has been out of the purview of the special representatives appointed by China and India to negotiate a settlement of the disputed boundary.
DH News Service, New Delhi, Dec 17 2017, 20:34 IST
Beijing has been firm on its view that the recent stand-off in Doklam Plateau has been out of the purview of the special representatives appointed by China and India to negotiate a settlement of the disputed boundary.
Though the boundary negotiators of India and China will meet soon, they still have differences on whether their mandate will allow them to discuss the recent military face-off in Doklam Plateau.
The special representatives of India and China - Prime Minister Narendra Modi's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi - are set to hold the 20th round of boundary negotiations soon.
This is going to be the first meeting between the chief interlocutors of New Delhi and Beijing after the 72-day-long military face-off in Doklam Plateau brought China's boundary disputes with both Bhutan and India under renewed focus.New Delhi and Beijing, however, are still not on the same page on whether the mandate of the special representatives for boundary negotiations will include negotiation over the dispute in Sikkim sector of the India-China border – the scene of the latest face-off, sources told DH.
Beijing has been firm on its view that the recent stand-off in Doklam Plateau has been out of the purview of the special representatives appointed by China and India to negotiate a settlement of the disputed boundary.
Hindustani78
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http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/wo...a-law-against-reuters-journalists/515206.html
Posted at: Dec 18, 2017, 12:38 PM;
last updated: Dec 18, 2017, 12:38 PM (IST)
Myanmar wields colonial-era law against Reuters journalists
December 18
Myanmar has accused Reuters reporters Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, of breaching the country’s Official Secrets Act, a little-used hangover from colonial rule.
Sam Zarifi, secretary-general of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), said the law can ensnare working journalists “at any time”.
The two reporters were arrested on Tuesday evening after they were invited to meet police officers for dinner in the north of Yangon.
The Ministry of Information said they had “illegally acquired information with the intention to share it with foreign media”, and published a photo of the pair in handcuffs standing behind a table with documents laid on it.
Origins of the official secrets Act
The law dates back to 1923, when Myanmar, then known as Burma, was a province of British India. At the time British administrators worried that rival powers could seek to exploit anti-colonial unrest in its South Asian empire.
The Act, which amended earlier anti-spying legislation, was controversial in India even at the time, according to a history published in 2009 by the United Service Institution of India, a New Delhi-based think tank.
British military officers pushed for the stronger law over concerns about an “increase in Bolshevik activity”, along with geopolitical threats including “the possibility of racial war between Japan and the USA affecting India”, the history said.
What the Act says
The Official Secrets Act covers trespassing in prohibited areas, handling documents deemed secret and communicating with “foreign agents”. It carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
Zarifi of the Geneva-based ICJ - a human rights group made up of 60 senior international judges, lawyers and legal academics - said the definition of an official secret in the act is “incredibly broad”.
“Just about anyone in possession of unpublished government documents could find themselves facing prosecution and the harsh penalties a conviction may carry,” Zarifi said. “Under this law many good journalists could be prosecuted at any time.” In India, where the same law also remains on the statute book, courts have ruled that it even applies to parliamentary papers such as budget proposals if they are leaked before they are presented in the legislature.
Use of the Act
Legal experts say prosecutions under the act have been rare in Myanmar in recent decades.
The military junta that ruled until 2011 frequently used other laws or the Penal Code - also inherited from the colonial era - to lock up its critics alongside common criminals. The sprawling code was drafted in 1860, and gives magistrates more than 500 sections under which to charge alleged offenders.
In 1990, a military court sentenced two leaders of the then opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) to 10 years in prison under the Official Secrets Act after they passed an official letter to foreign embassies. The prosecution was part of a broad crackdown following an election won by the NLD that the junta ignored.
They were freed in 1992, in an amnesty, according to a New York Times report at the time.
Reports of at least two other cases brought under the act are recorded in the online archives of the Asian Human Rights Commission in 2009 and 2010.
The first case involved a man jailed for trespassing on military land and recording video footage to allegedly send abroad. He had been helping a farmer file a land grab complaint against the military. The second concerned a former army officer who was jailed in 2010 for allegedly having secret information on his laptop that he passed to foreign news agencies.
The most well-documented recent case involving the Official Secrets Act came in January of 2014, when the Yangon-based weekly, Unity Journal, published a front page article it said exposed a secret chemical weapons factory run by the military in central Myanmar.
Police arrested the newspaper’s CEO and four journalists involved in publishing the story, raided its offices, and attempted to seize all copies of the edition from newsstands.
A civilian court in Pakkoku, near the alleged factory, sentenced them in July 2014 to 10 years in prison with hard labour - later reduced to seven years. The case was widely seen by the domestic media as a warning that military affairs remained off-limits even though direct military rule had ended.
The ‘Unity Five’ were released in an amnesty in April 2016, soon after the NLD, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, had come to power following an election in 2015.
The Unity Journal subsequently closed.
Reuters was unable to reach government legal officials over the weekend and a Monday public holiday to request details of any other past cases in which the Official Secrets Act was used.
The latest case
Little is known of the allegations against the two Reuters journalists, other than that police said they were “arrested for possessing important and secret government documents related to Rakhine State and security forces” and are charged under Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act.
Two policemen are also being investigated in the case, according to police.
Section 3 covers entering prohibited places, taking images or handling secret official documents that “might be or is intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy”.
Human Rights Watch in 2016 said Section 3 “defines the offence of ‘spying’ extremely broadly”.
“Where a military establishment is involved, section 3(2) of the statute effectively places the burden on the defendant to prove that they are not guilty,” the group said.
Has anything changed under Suu Kyi?
In May 2016, the month after Suu Kyi took power, the 1975 State Protection Act that had been used to keep her under house arrest for years was repealed.
The Emergency Provisions Act, introduced in 1950 and frequently used against activists after the military seized power in a 1962 coup, was swept away in October the same year.
But the Official Secrets Act and other laws, such as the 1908 Unlawful Associations Act, that have been used to jail journalists and activists, remain in force.
Reuters was unable to reach Suu Kyi’s spokesman to seek comment from Suu Kyi on the use of the Official Secrets Act to detain the two Reuters journalists. Reuters
Posted at: Dec 18, 2017, 12:38 PM;
last updated: Dec 18, 2017, 12:38 PM (IST)
Myanmar wields colonial-era law against Reuters journalists
December 18
Myanmar has accused Reuters reporters Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, of breaching the country’s Official Secrets Act, a little-used hangover from colonial rule.
Sam Zarifi, secretary-general of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), said the law can ensnare working journalists “at any time”.
The two reporters were arrested on Tuesday evening after they were invited to meet police officers for dinner in the north of Yangon.
The Ministry of Information said they had “illegally acquired information with the intention to share it with foreign media”, and published a photo of the pair in handcuffs standing behind a table with documents laid on it.
Origins of the official secrets Act
The law dates back to 1923, when Myanmar, then known as Burma, was a province of British India. At the time British administrators worried that rival powers could seek to exploit anti-colonial unrest in its South Asian empire.
The Act, which amended earlier anti-spying legislation, was controversial in India even at the time, according to a history published in 2009 by the United Service Institution of India, a New Delhi-based think tank.
British military officers pushed for the stronger law over concerns about an “increase in Bolshevik activity”, along with geopolitical threats including “the possibility of racial war between Japan and the USA affecting India”, the history said.
What the Act says
The Official Secrets Act covers trespassing in prohibited areas, handling documents deemed secret and communicating with “foreign agents”. It carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
Zarifi of the Geneva-based ICJ - a human rights group made up of 60 senior international judges, lawyers and legal academics - said the definition of an official secret in the act is “incredibly broad”.
“Just about anyone in possession of unpublished government documents could find themselves facing prosecution and the harsh penalties a conviction may carry,” Zarifi said. “Under this law many good journalists could be prosecuted at any time.” In India, where the same law also remains on the statute book, courts have ruled that it even applies to parliamentary papers such as budget proposals if they are leaked before they are presented in the legislature.
Use of the Act
Legal experts say prosecutions under the act have been rare in Myanmar in recent decades.
The military junta that ruled until 2011 frequently used other laws or the Penal Code - also inherited from the colonial era - to lock up its critics alongside common criminals. The sprawling code was drafted in 1860, and gives magistrates more than 500 sections under which to charge alleged offenders.
In 1990, a military court sentenced two leaders of the then opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) to 10 years in prison under the Official Secrets Act after they passed an official letter to foreign embassies. The prosecution was part of a broad crackdown following an election won by the NLD that the junta ignored.
They were freed in 1992, in an amnesty, according to a New York Times report at the time.
Reports of at least two other cases brought under the act are recorded in the online archives of the Asian Human Rights Commission in 2009 and 2010.
The first case involved a man jailed for trespassing on military land and recording video footage to allegedly send abroad. He had been helping a farmer file a land grab complaint against the military. The second concerned a former army officer who was jailed in 2010 for allegedly having secret information on his laptop that he passed to foreign news agencies.
The most well-documented recent case involving the Official Secrets Act came in January of 2014, when the Yangon-based weekly, Unity Journal, published a front page article it said exposed a secret chemical weapons factory run by the military in central Myanmar.
Police arrested the newspaper’s CEO and four journalists involved in publishing the story, raided its offices, and attempted to seize all copies of the edition from newsstands.
A civilian court in Pakkoku, near the alleged factory, sentenced them in July 2014 to 10 years in prison with hard labour - later reduced to seven years. The case was widely seen by the domestic media as a warning that military affairs remained off-limits even though direct military rule had ended.
The ‘Unity Five’ were released in an amnesty in April 2016, soon after the NLD, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, had come to power following an election in 2015.
The Unity Journal subsequently closed.
Reuters was unable to reach government legal officials over the weekend and a Monday public holiday to request details of any other past cases in which the Official Secrets Act was used.
The latest case
Little is known of the allegations against the two Reuters journalists, other than that police said they were “arrested for possessing important and secret government documents related to Rakhine State and security forces” and are charged under Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act.
Two policemen are also being investigated in the case, according to police.
Section 3 covers entering prohibited places, taking images or handling secret official documents that “might be or is intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy”.
Human Rights Watch in 2016 said Section 3 “defines the offence of ‘spying’ extremely broadly”.
“Where a military establishment is involved, section 3(2) of the statute effectively places the burden on the defendant to prove that they are not guilty,” the group said.
Has anything changed under Suu Kyi?
In May 2016, the month after Suu Kyi took power, the 1975 State Protection Act that had been used to keep her under house arrest for years was repealed.
The Emergency Provisions Act, introduced in 1950 and frequently used against activists after the military seized power in a 1962 coup, was swept away in October the same year.
But the Official Secrets Act and other laws, such as the 1908 Unlawful Associations Act, that have been used to jail journalists and activists, remain in force.
Reuters was unable to reach Suu Kyi’s spokesman to seek comment from Suu Kyi on the use of the Official Secrets Act to detain the two Reuters journalists. Reuters
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