12 hours General Strike called against border fencing
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 03 2013: Demanding an immediate halt to the ongoing border fencing along Manipur (India)-Myanmar border which has sparked widespread apprehension about loss of large chunks of Manipur's territory, the Committee on Protection of Land in Border Fencing, Manipur has called a 12 hour general strike all over the State on October 7 .

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon, representative of the committee announced a 12 hour general strike with effect from 5 am of October 7 .

They decried that the Government has been sitting idle even as a memorandum was submitted to the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Principal Secretary (Home) highlighting the imminent loss of large chunks of Manipur's territory on account of the border fencing work.

Such irresponsible attitude of the Government has compelled the committee to call the general strike, they said.

The fencing that has come up along the border

However, medical, fire service and water supply would be exempted from the purview of the general strike.

Pointing out that the issue concerns the territorial integrity of Manipur, they appealed to all organisations of the State to support the general strike.

Decrying the stoic silence maintained by the 60 MLAs of Manipur on such a critical issue, the committee questioned if they are sons and daughters of the soil.

The issue demands re-survey of the Indo-Myanmar boundary along Manipur sector and the ongoing border fencing work should be immediately put on hold pending a joint re-survey and amicable settlement of the border row.

Pointing out that Manipur shares 398 Kms of international border with Myanmar, the committee members said that construction of border fence from BP 32 to BP 130 would affect 2969 houses of 43 different villages.

Moreover, it would displace 9954 citizens of the country.

Saying that they received reports about the Government setting aside Rs 5.4 crore for paying compensation to people affected by the border fencing work, they questioned if this amount can ensure welfare of the affected people and their future generations.

Dismissing the Myanmar authority's claim that Hollenphai village forms a part of their territory, they contended that Myanmar's BP 23 should be on the right side of Lokchao river.

Although the Government of India has been maintaining that border controversy between the two neighbouring countries in Manipur sector involves only nine border pillars, BP No 86 is erected at two places; one on the bank of Tuyang river and another at Saibol village.

The committee members demanded a joint survey of the Manipur-Myanmar border from BP No 32 to BP No 130 complete with soil test.