MPP questions GoI on border fencing
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 30 2013: Manipur People's Party has submitted a statement to the Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh apprising him about the news report on July 29 in both print and electronic media in Imphal reagrding border fencing.

The MPP, in a representation to the PM, brought to the notice of the PM about the news report that stated Manipur would lose a substantial part of its territory to Myanmar in the process of border fencing between India and Myanmar in the Manipur sector that has a length of 398 km.

"The fencing is being taken up by the Department of Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

The most unfortunate part of the matter is that the present State Govt led by O Ibobi happens to be a mute spectator or have it apprises the PM in time", the MPP pointed out.

It then said, interestingly only yesterday the State Cabinet reportedly discussed the matter that has been brewing since the fencing work had begun a decade ago.

"Does the Government of India aware of the fact that Manipur stands to lose a substantial part of its territory to Myanmar?", it questioned.

MPP is also aware of the question of creating a no-man's land in the international boundary between the two countries.

However, the question of Manipur losing a substantial part of it due to the faulty fencing process cannot be equated with the creation of no-man's land between India and Myanmar, it stressed.

It also added, "The border fencing is done far inside the territory of Manipur reportedly 100 metres to 10 kilometres inside the State from the boundary" .

The MPP representation recalled that Manipur have lost Kabow Valley, a huge area of land lying between Myanmar and Manipur which is rich in forest and mineral resources, to Myanmar when Jawaharlal Nehru, the first PM of India proffered the Valley to the Burmese leader U Nu in return of good neighbourliness in 1953 .

It then stated, "Manipur would not agree to lose even an inch of its territory to please anyone or any country.

The present territory of Manipur is a gift of sweat and blood of our forefathers for more than two thousand years" .

On behalf of the people of this land, MPP urged the PM to intervene and stop the defective and flawed process of border fencing taken up by his Government until it is rectified by taking into confidence the people and Government of Manipur, it stated.

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