Who Created the Border Pillar Conflict? For What?

Marina Konsam *

Scenes of disputed Indo-Myanmar Border Pillar Number 81 at Kwatha Khunou, Tengnoupal in July 2018 :: Pix - Jimmy Leivon

The recent issue of border pillar number 81 and 82 created a fear among the people of Manipur after experiencing of the incident of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru completely gifted of the Kabaw valley to the Burmese government as a token of peace in the year 1952.

Various civil societies and the villagers of the area located near the pillar have been highlighting the facts of where the border pillar is supposed to be comparing with the recent erected pillar by the Myanmar Government. Unfortunately, the stories and the facts revealed by the indigenous villagers inhabited near the border area are mocked as an illiterate by the Government of Manipur.

It cannot be forgotten that those villagers have been inhabited in the area before the existence of the Government of Manipur and it could also be asked that how many times has the government of Manipur Visited those areas?

Many people have visited the area to find or in search of the real facts and circumstances of where the pillar was and where it is suppose to be, however, it could be found that few government officials having less knowledge of the pillar have visited the area but not the actual people who had involved in the real demarcation of the border in the past between the Government of Myanmar and representatives of Government of India from Manipur.

The statement released on 8th of July, 2018 by the Spokesperson's of the Ministry of External Affairs have informed that the "State Government of Manipur has been involved in the entire exercise." of the exact alignment of the international boundary.

Then where are the officials of the Government of Manipur and India involved in the entire exercise and why are they silent still?

The funny part is the central government has just pinned upon the Government of Manipur through the statement released on the 8th of July, 2018 and it clearly indicates that the Central Government does not want to be responsible instead trying to create another conflict between the people and the government of Manipur which the Government of Manipur has no guts to raise voice against the central Babus sitting at Delhi.

Here the question arises is on Who is guarding our land? Who is the ultimate responsible authority to look after it? Who must be blamed upon? Who should be liable for it? Isn't it the government or the Indian Armed Forces who are deployed in our state?

As per my knowledge, they are here for the protection of the nation and people at large from external forces as India shares International boundary through Manipur with Myanmar.

Then why haven't they have any knowledge with regard to the recent Border Pillar issue which are meant to protect by them and where were they at the time when the Myanmar Forces entered and claimed that the land belongs to Myanmar? If they are not capable enough to protect the people and our land from outside forces then they are pleased to "GO BACK".

On the other hand why the government of Manipur is still silent and unable to provide a positive response to the people of Manipur and aren't they capable of running the state is yet another big question arises among many of the youths of the state.

It is very eye opening to see our Chief Minister for initiating many welfare schemes for the citizens like the mission "Go to village", "CM gi haksel gi Tengbang", "Go to Hill", etc, then it won't it be a great Idea to remind the CM to add another mission called "Go to Border" in order to protect our motherland as the Central Forces have failed to do so and sometime we fear that "are central forces involved in creating the conflict having nexus with the Myanmar Army?". If yes then "We are not safe".

After suffering enough since many decades old struggling the citizens have woken up already realizing the fact of suppression and downtrodden by the Central Government then why the government of Manipur didn't?

Kneeling down to Babu's sitting in Delhi then we cannot deny the fact that our precious motherland "Manipur" will be disappeared from the surface of the earth then there will be no more your government anymore, and if the government is somehow formed then it will be just for namesake.

Therefore, it is high time for people who are now part of the Government of Manipur to raise voice against those Babu's who are remotely controlling the Government of Manipur from outside Manipur before our land are sold out to other nations by creating hatred among our people.

Decide now and settle the boundary dispute which is suspicious to be created by the Government of India in allied with the Government of Myanmar using their military forces or become slave for the entire generation which will be hard to regain consciousness again once we land up to be a slave.

Further to remind the government of Manipur that current issues are more important and need to be solved urgently and immediately. Past will remain in the past, it can never be present. This present day will also be a past after tomorrow. We cannot rewind it, likewise, if we solve our present problems now, then there won't be time to solve it in the future from getting started again. We can't go to the past and solve it.

Lastly my question to the citizen of Manipur is "Is the issue of Border Pillar a Distraction to loot the Natural Resources found in the Border Region by India and Myanmar?" is another serious issues which we need to understand before getting looted by the devils.