Seaspray D seeks Sanctuary in Manipur — India

And escapes the Burmese Junta — into the unfamiliar

Burma Wanderlust Series 2

Episode Three

Himalayan Mountain — Photo — Clasiqh on Unsplash

A Pussy Cat Tale

Lady Donga Diaries

Words & Pictures — Lady Donga

Meow 382

Welcome back to the Burma wanderlust series dear readers.

You may recall from episode two — Fear & Famine the Produce of War — Meow 378 — where Seaspray D and Lt Gen Sai Tong had just conducted a humanitarian supply drop to a village near Putao — Kachin State Burma.

Food aid and desperately needed medicine were distributed by soldiers on the ground, while Seaspray submitted an article to various Western Media Outlets, detailing the rigors of the Burmese civil war that remain largely unknown in the west — as Western media’s sole focus seems to be on the Middle East and the Ukraine Russia conflict on the other side of the world.

Once his reporting duty was done, Seaspray D sat down for a cup of tea and a bite to eat with Lt Gen Sai Tong — enjoying the Himalayan view northwards.

While the Putao area lies on a plain at a modest 1000 feet above sea level — the peak of Burma’s highest mountain — Hkakabo Razi — (almost 6000 meters near the tripoint border of India, China, and Burma) — could be seen once one tilted their head back sufficiently.

Map of Putao Town, Burma - near China and India Border — Photo- Wikipedia

Lt Gen Sai Tong discussed more of the current conflict situation with Seaspray D: “At present our minority forces have gained the upper hand over the junta — but — we shall have to remain vigilant — as the junta have now introduced national service, and have drafted 15,000 new recruits which will bolster their current forces.

“However, its seems civilians are not so keen on joining when they hear of our success against the junta forces.

“There are reports that the regime is snatching draft age citizens from their homes, or off the street in some areas of the country.

“Naturally, parents are not happy seeing their offspring dragged off in the middle of the night to join the military, and now they also plan to draft women.

“Subsequently, there has been a flow of young people to other countries, people who don’t want to go to war — or they might join us if they despise the regime enough.

“The minority forces are battle hardened — but the young draftees receive just three months training before they are sent to war zones, Lt Gen Sai Tong said.

The Lt Gen hesitated for a moment when a walkie talky he carried came to life with what seemed welcome news.

The Lt Gen nodded and smiled, before acknowledging the report in his own dialect.

“My sources inform me that the Arakan Army has seized Thandwe airport — near the coastal resort town of Ngapali in Rakhine state — and many junta forces had fled in fear,” Lt. Gen Sai Tong said.

Much later, the walkie talky came to life again — this time Lt Gen Sai Tong was not smiling.

He stood up and replied to what seemed to be a rather urgent request from whoever was talking on the other end of the walkie talkie.

Without a word he took Seaspray D by the arm and walked over to the helicopter that was on standby — nearby.

Soon the helicopter was in the air and seemed to be heading west — or perhaps more southwest.

Seaspray D was puzzled at the sudden departure and then finally his curiosity got the better of him.

“Where are we headed, Lt Gen Sai Tong?” Seaspray D inquired.

“We have had a request from Chin land Council in Chin State to the south west of here on the India-Burma border.

“They have had a few victories down there, however, with the bolstering of troops from the draft they need our backup — in particular air support — so this is what we multi ethnic groups do — we support each other against our common enemy — the Burma Military Junta.

Chin State Army Soldiers — Photo CJ

“Our Chin State brothers have captured three regime strongholds towards the states northern border with India: Tongzan, Kyeekha, Matupi and the Manipur River.

“One major problem is unity — the junta plays divide and rule tricks as the British have done for centuries — the general consensus is that if the various groups unite — they will have no trouble eliminating the junta occupation.

“One such group helping us there is India for Myanmar, an Indian based human rights group of activist experts — with an aim to unify Chin States anti junta groups,” Lt Gen Sai Tong said.

The helicopter was flying low despite the rugged mountainous country below, and was now hovering over the Manipur River which flows into Chin State Burma, from Manipur, India.

Unexpectedly, a rocket came from nowhere and smashed the windscreen of the Bell Helicopter.

Everyone on board redesigned their underwear with skid marks — terrified from the shock of the hit.

Fortunately the helicopter was serviceable — but Lt Gen Sai Tong ordered the pilot to cross the border into the relative safety of India, and they landed safely near the Geljang Resort — a quiet place by a lake in Manipur State.

Khuga Lake — Manipur India — Photo Google Maps

The India for Myanmar NGO group mentioned above, had a clinic nearby that Lt Gen Sai Tong was familiar with — so he escorted Seaspray D and the pilot who had lacerations caused by the fragmented glass.

Attending to them was a very kind Indian Nurse called Swarnika Tejasvani Thakur (means gold in Hindi) and a Dr Rama Kallol Mazumdar who oversaw the triage procedure.

“Mmm…nasty cut you have there Seaspray D,” Dr Rama said as he watched Nurse Swarnika wipe the blood away from the Australian man’s forehead, “We will have to keep you here overnight under observation — after we fix you with a few stitches,” Dr Rama asserted.

Nurse Swarnika just smiled — saying nothing.

And that is your lot for today dear readers — lets see what happens in the next episode sometime soon.

MeooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooW for now dear readers

Until next time

With Love — Lady Donga Diaries — © Meow 381–2024

Donga — Human & Feline Rights Defender © Lady Donga Diaries 2024

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