Loss from border fencing to be the size of Bishnupur District
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Laishram Roshan

Imphal, July 28 2013: After the loss of Kabaw Valley to Myanmar, again a large portion of the land will be lost to Myanmar because of the ongoing Indo-Myanmar border fencing.

The total land area to be lost is presumed to be approximately the size of Bishnupur District.

Around 10 Kms have been completed for the first phase of fencing from border pillar nos.79 to 81.But this would destroy the habitation of about 14 villages in Chandel District.

Some of the villages will completely go to Myanmar while others will be dissected by the border.

Under the leadership of Information Centre for Hill areas Manipur (ICHAM), a team comprising members of Rural People's Development Federation (RPDF); Kuki Students' organisation, Moreh block; Eastern Maring Association; Hill Tribal Council Moreh and Kuki Chiefs' Association, Moreh Block visited the border fencing affected villages Govajang and Satang villages to inspect on July 26 .

Loss from border fencing to be the size of Bishnupur District

The team which included ICHAM Gen Secy Achonmi Ramshing; Publicity Secy Immison; members Tenzing, Sorri Senjam, Ch.

Maipak; Advisor/spokesperson Brozendra Ningomba; KSO president Thonghongam Maite, RPDF member Kamboi Baite, Hills tribal Council Ex- President Th.Thomsing, Eastern Maring Association members and media-persons, also interacted with the village chiefs and other villagers.

Comprising 24 houses and inhabited by around 150 villagers, Govajang is a village located 3 kms from Moreh town.

Their main source of livelihood of the villagers is plucking of mushroom and herbs and selling to the nearest market at Namthalong.

But the ongoing border fencing has today divided the village into two parts- one side on the side of India and the other in Myanmar.

Speaking to media persons who accompanied the inspection team, Chief of Govajang Village Thangkhopao Kipgen recalled that the area was declared as reserved forest by the Manipuri Durbar in 1946.But in 1967, the DC/ADC certified the settlement of the locals and started collecting hill taxes.

But the ongoing border fencing has been done after encroaching around 50-100 metres on the Manipur side of the border.

So, after completion of the ongoing border fencing, about two-third of the village land is set to be gone on the Myanmar side.

Thangkhopao informed that a letter had been written to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India for resolving the border dispute but till date there has been no reply.

The villagers had also filed a case in the High Court, but the case has remained pending.

He demanded that the ongoing fencing work should be restricted until resolution of the border dispute.

The media team also visited Satang Maring village, which is located around 25-30 km away from Moreh if travelled through Myanmar.

There is no motorable road connection from the Indian side.

Satang village will be completely lost to Myanmar because of the border fencing.

Village chiefs and villagers from 8 villages held a gathering and discussed the issue in the presence of the visiting media team.

During the course of the discussion, Ex- President of Hills Tribal Council Th Thomsing stated Marings have been associated with Meiteis since time immemorial and are still guarding the border.

But it is sad that the government is still neglecting this area.

Nonetheless, he made it clear that Marings will continue to protect the border of Manipur and will not accept any compensation or compromise on the issue of border.

Speaking to the Hueiyen Lanpao, ICHAM spokesperson Brozendra Ningomba said, "Earlier border used to be demarcated by streams, then by trees and now it is done by pillars and fencing.

But a serious thing about the ongoing Indo- Myanmar border fencing work is that it is being done in a straight line ignoring all the previous boundaries.

Instead of this, the govt should follow the traditional boundary demarcation by reviewing the historical maps and boundaries" .

Pointing out that when China crossed only 50 metres into Ladakh, India did a diplomatic war; Brozendra questioned why is India giving away the land when Myanmar is not even asking? .

"Is there any hidden agenda behind this?", he further questioned.

Speaking to media-persons at the RPDF office, RPDF spokesperson stated that public hearing should be done before the fencing is done and no compensation will be accepted.

The fencing and the survey of the boundary had been done without the consent of the village chiefs.

ICHAM Gen.

Secy.

Achonmi Ramshing read out a list of demands to be raised by ICHAM and other local bodies.

The demands included immediate intervention of govt, review of international border, non denial of citizenship, non-violation of source of livelihood of people in the border fencing affected villages.

Besides, Govajang and Satang, other affected villages are M.Kamnong, Lamlong Khunou, Waksu, Rilram Centre, Kharou Khullen, Leibi, Choktong, Saibol, Moirengthel, Kwatha Khunou, L.Molphei and Bongyang.