PEKING: People’s China strongly warned Indian warlords yesterday [Nov 24] to immediately stop their military attacks and armed provocations, failing which “you will not come to a good end”. The warning was given by a leading official of the Chinese Ministry of National Defence yesterday after the Foreign Ministry handed Indian Embassy a protest Note against an intrusion into Tibet by three Indian soldiers who were killed in an exchange of fire with Chinese troops.

The official, in an interview with NCNA said: “We once again wish to warn the Indian authorities: You must at once abandon your scheme to step up tension and at once stop your military attacks and armed provocations. If you refuse to come to your senses and persist in provocations and attacks you will not come to a good end.”

This armed provocation by the Indian troops was not an isolated incident, the official emphasised. The official said Indian troops had repeatedly fired at and attacked Chinese frontier guards on duty at Tungchu La around the middle of November.

Indian military aircraft had twice intruded and reconnoitred over the Tibet and Sinkiang regions of China and Indian troops had been massing in large numbers along the Sino-Indian and Sino-Sikkim borders.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies from Leopoldville,] Lt.-Gen. Joseph Mobutu ousted President Joseph Kasavubu today [Nov 25] and declared himself President of the Congo for the next five years. Gen Mobutu, the Army Commander-in-Chief, said he expected Parliamen­tary “approval by acclamation” of his Presidency later today. He also cancelled the presidential and parliamentary elections which had been scheduled for next January and February.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2015