Border Fencing : Why India and Manipur are silent ?

R.K. Shivachandra *

United Committee Manipur (UCM) inspection of India-Myanmar border area near Moreh :: August 8 - 10, 2013

By all account Mr. Suresh Babu is neither a politician nor an emissary who should speak on the India Myanmar border imbroglio. He should carefully assess the prevailing situation and convey it to the Home Minister where he can assert his wisdom. The oversimplified and misleading statement of Suresh Babu, Principal Secretary, Home that said erected fence is a "security fence" and not border fence could spark a devastating inferno.

If the fence was a security one then what about the 14 tribal villages that have been pushed off to Myanmar territory after the erection of the fence. The emotion of disgruntled people of Manipur should not be taken in a light vein. The borderline is more accustomed to the Manipuris and not necessarily the work should be entrusted to someone who knows nothing of the feature.

As per international convention, border fencing can be erected 150 yards inside your territory from the zero point (means border pillar or middle of river). This is a norm of a buffer zone between border and fencing, and not a law. But the two countries can also bilaterally decide a mutually agreed distance. 150 yards is maintained along Indo-Bangla and Indo-Pak border.

Please note 150 yards is about 137 meters. India can still do fencing without informing Myanmar, but it has to be at least 150 yards from the border pillar. It can be 500 yards or 1 km, but minimum 150 yards, otherwise Myanmar can oppose it. Along the LOC in Kashmir, India did fencing, but after going 150 yards inside India's territory. As it is hilly terrain, at some places the fence is 1 Kms away from border.

Pakistan had opposed the fencing, but international community has supported, as India followed the '150 yards' fencing convention. The recent ambush of Indian soldiers by terrorists in Kashmir was between the exact border line and the fence. If Myanmar govt do not agree to reduce the distance, India govt has to do fencing 150 yards inside our territory from border pillar. But this depends on the bilateral relationships of the two neighbouring countries.

The border fence at the gate no 2(Nafalong) and Moreh is erected at zero point and this is mutually agreed to but the bigger question is when a fence at Nafalong can be negotiated at zero point, why this same wisdom cannot be applied in certain villages of Manipur that was segregated to Myanmar side in the wake of the fencing.

Mr. Suresh Babu should first confirm and open to public what distance was followed in Moreh sector. Border fence should not be confused with border pillar, which is the exact border. In case of Assam's Karimganj town, both India and Bangladesh agreed fencing at 25 yards from zero point as half of the town will be outside fencing if 150 yards norm is followed. So, 25 yards fencing was agreed for 3.5 km length in Karimganj. Assam government had taken up the matter with MHA and the centre convinced Bangladesh.

In case of Indo-Bangladesh fencing in Tripura, there is even fencing at zero line in some areas like Mohanpur and Kailashar etc. This came after CPM govt took up issue with centre and the centre spoke to Bangladesh and convinced them on zero line fencing in some areas of Tripura.

Questions that can be asked 'Was Manipur government consulted when the fencing decision was taken by the centre?' If so, till what level, the state is aware about the fencing?

What is the agreed distance for fencing? 150 yards or less? .

If many villages will fall outside the fence, has Manipur government taken up the matter with the MHA like Assam and Tripura government did?

If Tripura govt can convince for zero line fencing in many areas along Indo-Bangladesh border and Assam govt can convince the centre for 25 yards fence in Karimganj town, why can't Manipur govt do it?

Or has Manipur government remained a silent spectator?. In case of Moreh town, the border fencing is almost at zero line?

Why can't it be followed in other areas? Has Manipur govt ever raised this issue with the centre?

Has the centre ever raised this issue with Myanmar or Has India did the fencing without discussing with Myanmar? .

In LOC in Kashmir, Indian army patrolled the areas between the zero line and fence and similarly, BSF did along Indo-Bangla border. Will Assam Rifles do it in Indo-Myanmar border? When border fencing issue was kept so open both in Assam and Tripura governments allowing people to debate on it, why Manipur govt so secretive? A dull and lethargic government can render many homeless especially in border areas and I pray this should not occur to our Chief Minister.

At this point of time creating confusion with Myanmar is not a good sign. Centre should not say that the fencing is disturbed by the people of Manipur. Please do not throw the ball to us we cannot afford to antagonise with Myanmar for no reasons. Please remember Manipur is as precious as Kashmir, Mumbai and Delhi for this is also India.

So Delhi should speak to their Myanmar counterpart and settle it amicably as they did in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Manipur Government should not use the ostrich tactics this time. Please get your heads off the layers of sands and see the reality; the cloud is looming heavy in the sky and weather forecast could be dangerous to you as well as for the people.

R.K. Shivachandra

* R.K. Shivachandra contributes regularly to e-pao.net
He can be contacted at nongpokharam(at)gmail(dot)com

This article was posted on August 30, 2013 .