No border disputes but border pillars : The gravity of the issue
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: March 18 2016 -
Nearly three years down the line and the matter is yet to be resolved.
It may not be that easy but there is as yet no indication that New Delhi has taken the matter with the seriousness it deserves.
One here is talking about the strong suspicion raised that Manipur stands to lose large chunks of her territory while erecting border pillars along the Indo-Myanmar boundary.
Not a recent development for one just has to recollect the days in 2013 when there was a huge cry along the border.
If memory serves us right, the picture of a policeman from Myanmar pointing his finger at some Government officials of Manipur and making his point must still be fresh in the minds of the discerning readers.
This was in 2013 and fast forward to 2016 and there is nothing to suggest that some breakthrough has been achieved to settle the matter once and for all.
Significant to note that the Information Centre for Hill Areas of Manipur (ICHAM) is at the forefront conducting minute survey of the border areas and directly interacting with the villagers living on the side of Manipur.
If what the villagers have had to say is any indication then, there is something amiss about the manner in which the boundary has been marked and the border pillars are being erected.
The matter has already been discussed on the floor of the State Assembly, with Chief Minister O Ibobi making it more than clear that the State Government will not be silent if Manipur stands to lose her territory to Myanmar.
The important question is whether Delhi is seized of the matter and whether the State Government has highlighted the issue to the Centre.
This is not the time to pussy foot the matter.
In the first place, it would do well for Delhi to acknowledge the point that the villagers along the border have absolutely nothing to gain by cooking up any tale.
What they have so far said must certainly contain a degree of truth and this is something which should not be ignored.
The Government too should remember that though there may be no boundary dispute with Myanmar as such, some issues regarding the border pillars are yet to be resolved.
It was this which the then MoS for External Affairs, Preneet Kaur told the Lok Sabha in reply to a question raised by Manipur Inner MP Dr Thokchom Meinya way back on December 18, 2013.
To quote Preneet Kaur on December 18, 2013, ‘There is no boundary dispute between India and Myanmar.
There are however nine unresolved Boundary Pillars along the India-Myanmar border in Manipur sector.
The two sides hold regular dialogue on issues related with boundary demarcation and border management, through institutionalised mechanisms, such as Foreign Consultations, National Level Meetings and Sectoral Level Meetings.”
This was in 2013 but the issue is still simmering if the recent reports are anything to go by and it should more than say that there are still a lot of points to be hammered out. Time for the Centre to acknowledge the seriousness of the issue.
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