Fencing construction along Indo-Myanmar border Ibobi insists on permanent settlement
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 04 2016 : Chief Minister O Ibobi has categorically stated that the State Government would not remain silent with regard to any activities taken up by the Government of India along Manipur sector of India-Myanmar border until all the contested claims over border are settled permanently.

The Chief Minister made this statement on the floor of the House while discussing a call attention motion raised by Dr I Ibohalbi and Kh Joykishan regarding media reports about the likelihood of losing 100 sq Kms of Manipur's territory to Myanmar as a result of fence construction along Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur sector.

Raising the call attention motion, Dr Ibohalbi stated that people of Manipur and the kings protected the boundary of Manipur when it was a sovereign kingdom.

However, in the aftermath of the Treaty of Yandaboo and transfer of Kabow Valley to Myanmar in accordance with an agreement reached between India and Myanmar, the territory of Manipur shrunk quite a lot.

At that time, Manipur lost 12 villages which were located at Somra tract and another five villages located at Kangpat too disappeared.

The responsibility of protecting the territory of Manipur fell into the hands of the Government of India after Manipur was merged into the Indian Union.

A bilateral meeting of India and Myanmar was held on March 10, 1967 at Rangoon and discussed the delimitation of the international boundary line between the two countries.

After both the countries agreed on the need for certain modifications regarding the traditional boundary, India and Myanmar signed an Instrument of Rectification on May 30, 1967 .

When the Government of India took up the initiative of constructing border fence in 2013, fresh controversies erupted over 99 border pillars.

BP 78 was replaced by BP 21 and it was erected just beyond the complex of Tamil Sangam, Moreh, Dr Ibohalbi pointed out.

When the UPA was in power at the Centre, an all-party delegation from Manipur went to the Centre and raised the issue.

The Central Government then assured that not an inch of Manipur's territory would be given away to Myanmar.

Subsequently, the boundary line was inspected by a team led by the Surveyor General of India.

After this, the border fencing work was halted for sometime.

Another survey team sent by the Government of India visited Satang village and Kwatha Khunou on December 20 last year.

There is an apprehension that the border fencing work would affect 11 villages including Kwatha Khunou, Satang, Leibi, Lamlong, Wakshu, Chatong, Saivol, Morelthel and Chanringphai.

The total population of these villages is around 4000 and all of them speak Manipuri (Meiteilon) fluently which implies none of them are immigrants from Myanmar, Dr Ibohalbi continued.

Now the border fencing work is all set to be resumed and subsidiary pillars have been already erected.

As a consequence, people of all the 11 villages are facing a critical situation where they may lose Indian citizenship even though they possess voter cards, ration cards and job cards.

As they would face severe existential crisis including drastic alteration in their culture, traditions and identity, the villagers have resolved to protect Manipur's boundary if the Government of India and State Government are not in a position to safeguard the State's territory.

Dr Ibohalbi then asked the Chief Minister if he is aware of erecting subsidiary border pillars 1.5 to 2.5 Kms inward from the original line, and if yes, what measures have been initiated.

Joykishan proposed a field visit by all the 60 MLAs to the villages likely to be affected and assure them that they would remain within Manipur as citizens of India.

If necessary, all the MLAs must go to Delhi and apprise the Prime Minister about the unfolding issue, he asserted.

In response, the Chief Minister maintained that he had informed the Centre about the State Government's non-negotiable stance when it comes to the territory of Manipur.

Until and unless all the contested claims are settled permanently, nothing should be done which may disturb the status quo.

This is the State Government's position and it has been conveyed to the Government of India without any ambiguity.

As reported by the Chandel DC, a team of the Surveyor General of India visited Kwatha Khunou, Satang and Choktong villages recently and they went back after it was told that the area extending up to old BP No 81 belongs to Manipur.

Joint meetings where officials of the Ministry of External Affairs were present were held twice in January and July last year.

At these meetings, the State Government asked the Central Government not to do anything until and unless all the contested claims along Manipur sector of Indo-Myanmar border are settled permanently.

Informing that MHA officials produced an old map at the two meetings, Ibobi asked whether the 60 MLAs should first see the map or go to the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and the External Affairs Minister and take up the border issue.

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