Haollenphai villagers see red over Govt's move to acquire 3,000 acres of land: Double blow
Caught between Myanmar and Imphal
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 21 2014 : Even as Myanmar has reportedly made inroads into the territory of Manipur, building army barracks on the soil of the State and dismantling houses claiming that the land belongs to them, the reported move of the State Government to acquire 3000 acres of land at Haollenphai village, bordering Tamu on the Indo-Myanmar border, has left the people of the village fuming with rage and anger.

Speaking to a group of media persons on June 20, the chief of Haollenphai village said that the Myanmarese army intruded into the village and set up a camp.

Moreover a fencing has also been put up and Myanmar has raised the claim that a large tract of land belonging to Manipur falls inside their territory.

Myanmar has claimed that the land falling between pillar number 74 and 76 belongs to them, he added.

Haollenphai village is located about 2/3 kms from Moreh along the border.

The remains of a house at Haollenphai village, bordering Tamu on the Indo-Myanmar border

The Myanmarese army intruded into Haollenphai village some time last year and set up a camp, leaving the villagers in an uncertain position.

Moreover, about two weeks back, Myanmar army came to the periphery of the village and again claimed that a large tract of the village belongs to them and demolished two houses, claiming that the two houses are within the territory of Myanmar, said the village chief.

The villagers were also told by the Myanmar army to stop the construction work of a new house of the village chief claiming that it falls within their territory.

Even though Myanmarese army have been regularly coming to the village and claiming that large portions of the land belong to them, the Assam Rifles personnel posted to guard the border areas have not intervened at all, contended the villagers.

The Myanmar army have also gone a step forward and submitted written intimations to the Moreh ADC and the Assam Rifles that large portion of land at Haollenphai village fall within the territory of Myanmar, said a source.

Over and above these acts of intrusion, a large tract of forest areas measuring about three paris have been cleared on the side of Manipur and Myanmarese have started farming there.

Giving vent to his frustrations and anger, the village chief questioned whether the State Government of Manipur is indifferent to the intrusion along the border areas, since these areas are inhabited by tribal people.

Earlier there was no intrusion or encroachment into the territory of Manipur, said the village chief and added that Myanmar started claiming large tracts of land lying within the territory of Manipur after the border fencing started.

To add salt to wounds, now the State Government has announced that 3000 acres of land at Haollenphai would be acquired to build the proposed International Township, said the chief and added that this highly objectionable.

The people of Haollenphai will oppose tooth and nail the decision of the State Government to acquire 3000 acres of land to set up the International Township, after such a large tract of land has been 'gifted' to Myanmar, said the chief.

Such a decision amounts to trying to completely make Hollenphai village disappear.

However the people of Hollenphai will support any move to build the township on the land which has been intruded into by Myanmar.

President of Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur N Rajendro who also accompanied the media persons expressed shock and anguish over the decision of the State Government.

Questioning whether Manipur begins and ends only with Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur, Rajendro said that such indifference on the part of the Government suggests that it cannot look beyond the valley area.

It is due to the indifference of the State Government that Myanmar has come under the impression that it can lay claims on the territory of Manipur, said Rajendro.