Fencing & Constitutional solution

Free Thinker *

Inspection of border fencing between India and Myanmar at Moreh in September 2013 :: Pix - Som Sorokhaibam

Majority of the people in Manipur do not want to break Manipur - a referendum may not require proving this. Few leaders of some ethnic groups may want to dismember it due to their own logic and reasons.

To put a full stop to all the demands for balkanization of Manipur a small constitutional safeguard may be provided either in Article 371C or Article 3 itself- saying that Manipur’s territorial status of 1949 (Merger day) shall remain sacrosanct throughout.

This minor constitutional amendment ensuring its territorial integrity will help in restoring calm in the State. CM Saab, MP Saabs & MLA Saabs - can we do it? Dr Meinya, (then MP) once tried it in Parliament some 15 years back through a Private Member Bill.

Second, complete fencing of Indo-Myanmar border with a hybrid surveillance system plus a patrol track along the border will ensure peace and tranquility to a great extent not only in Manipur but also in the entire region.

Once we set up the fencing along the Indo-Myanmar Border many problems will be solved automatically. First, the illegal migration through the porous border will be contained. The smuggling of arms and drugs will be curtailed. Free movement of the honourable rebels on both sides will be stopped.

We want this fencing .It is for our safety and security. It is in bur national interest. Many in Myanmar may not like it because they are benefited from the porous border. Many in the Bharat side also may not like it - because without fencing they have numerous advantages and benefits - pecuniary or otherwise.

For instance the drug-traffickers, smugglers and rebels on either side are going to be affected in terms of their business, activities and movement. Even some of the income of our Hon. leaders may be slashed by such fencing.

These days the top administrative and policy making clique ot the State and Centre are breaking their heads to bring about a workable solution to the present intricate situation in Manipur. They keep asking our local leaders, intellectuals, journalists and even intelligentsia - what is the solution? None could so far provide a plausible solution, practical and implementable with least damage.

Most Politicians don’t bother - they simply want to ensure their power and position; quite a few of them are still trying to capture power in this fragile situation. That is what normally politicians do. After all they are in politics to gamer power and position, direct or indirect. A very few of them are truly interested in sharing the suffering and tragedy of the hapless people.

We understand many people will be deprived of their lucrative business along the international boundary .What to do! National interest is paramount. For your survival you may participate in the construction venture of the patrol-road and border-fencing. In fact, it is a long border of about 1643 km. It covers 4 states viz, Arunachal (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km).

Manipur border which is of about 400 km will be constructed first, on priority basis. According to an unconfirmed report it says that the fencing has already been done for 30 kms. Long time back I heard that a stretch of about 11 km had been completed. Once the fencing along the Myanmar-Manipur border is complete - the unending turmoil in the State will be satisfactorily subsided.

Fencing does not mean that all ties will be cut-off. Free Movement Regime (FMR) can be reintroduced with proper documentation. There will be a proper Gate at the border -may be at Moreh for legitimate movement of people and goods.

Trade and commerce shall continue purely on legitimate lines and people to people contact shall be through either FMR or passport-visa. FMR can still be made available to those citizens along the border - within the same range of 16 km on both sides. Their stay may be limited to 15 days. This has to be worked out accordingly.

I really don’t understand the reason why Nagaland and Mizoram do not want this fencing. Perhaps their policy decision makers are under the influence of smugglers and vested interest. Only anti-nationals may hate this idea. In any case this must be constructed though our forces along the boundary are deprived of their additional incomes.

Now, Trump has come and soon he will be at the helm of world affairs. As I said earlier things will improve in this subcontinent too. The latest indication is - the US announcement of a higher tariff wall for China, Mexico and Canada etc., not for India. Now, things will fall in line in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Manipur in our favor.

The Indo-Myanmar fencing will be completed in the next few years. An allocation of about 31000 crore has been made. Work is going on under full security. We must support this fencing in the national interest.

However, in order to protect the interest of the drug-traffickers, smugglers and respected rebels on both sides it is requested to go slow so as to enable them to make alternative arrangements for their survival. After all, we all are humans.