Bhutan has called for military action to force ethnic rebels (the Assam and Bodo rebels from India) to leave its lowland areas. The rebels are from the United Liberation Front of Assam and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland. There are reportedly 21 armed rebel camps inside Bhutan. India provides Bhutan with considerable military and financial aid, and has long put pressure on Bhutan to eliminate the rebel bases. Bhutan has now decided to do so, and has hinted that it will cooperate with Indian troops in doing so. The problem is that Bhutan's Army simply isn't up to the job, and allowing any significant number of Indian troops into the country would cause China to react strongly. --Stephen V Cole