MPP refutes MHA's statement on border fencing
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 09, 2013: Reacting to the statement of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India on Indo-Myanmar border fencing at Moreh in Manipur, President of Manipur People's Party (MPP) N Sovakiran has alleged that the officials of MHA are trying to dupe the people of Manipur by concealing the truth.

Addressing media persons at the office of MPP, President Sovakiran said that the MPP has submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister on June 30 regarding loss of State's territory to Myanmar due to ongoing border fencing works.

Moreover, a high level team of MPP has also inspected the affected villages along Indo-Myanmar border.

The officials of MHA are just giving a rough report based on table works, he alleged.

It may be noted here that the statement of the Ministry said, "Without the settlement of the International Boundary along with Boundary Pillars on Indo-Myanmar border, it is not possible to arrive at a definitive conclusion that a particular village or land is going to be lost.

For the benefit of readers, it is further clarified that the on-going fencing work is restricted to only 10 km for the present and no further work will be undertaken unless all the Boundary Pillars are finally settled through joint inspection by the National Survey Authorities of the two countries as well as the Survey & Settlement Officers and Staff of the State".

Reacting to this, Sovakiran said that the MHA officials claimed to have done the border fencing as per international law by leaving out 10 metres on both sides.

However, the actual scenario of border fencing near Moreh differed drastically from the law as mentioned by MHA.

The ongoing fencing works should be stopped unless an agreement is arrived at, the President enjoined.

The MPP President maintained that the border areas must be manned by Border Security Force (BSF), but there are no BSF personnel to guard the Indo-Myanmar boundary in the State.

The Assam Rifles personnel deployed in the border areas are not trained for border security but for countering insurgency in the State.

The loss of State's territory is not just about 10 metres, but more than two kilometres, he added.

He further demanded the MHA officials to bring out the maps and other documents based on which the border fencing survey was done.

Prior to Manipur's merger with the Indian Union, the State has distinct international boundaries.

Members of MPP could even make extreme sacrifices to safeguard the State's integrity, Sovakiran averred.

Vice-President of MPP Manisana noted that 1169 border pillars were installed along Indo-Myanmar boundary in the State during 1964-72.Many experts who were part of the survey team are still alive and they would be able to point out the exact boundary, he said.

Spokesperson of MPP Nabashyam stated that the inspection team of MPP found one church previously owned by the villagers of Manipur lost to Myanmar due to border fencing.

The Myanmarese authorities are now preventing the villagers from visiting the church.

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