AMUCO team inspects fencing work
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 21 2013: A team of representatives of six civil society organisations led by All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) have today inspected the border fencing work along the Indo-Myanmar border but were however stopped from proceeding towards the fencing put up by Myanmar, by the Myanmarese army.

The inspecting team, that consist of 50 representatives from AMESCO, NRC, Senior Citizens, CoHAR, ACODOM and chief of Holenphai village, Lalkholun Haokip, inspected the site where the Myanmar Army has set up its base camp at Holenphai village in the Indian side of the border.

The team later inspected former BP 76 now replaced by BP 23 by the Myanmar authority.

The inspecting team was restricted from proceeding to the border fencing taken up by the Myanmar army from there.

Besides, the accompanying journalists were restricted from taking picture in the area.

The wooden fencing at the border

Assam Rifles personnel, who have been deployed following a dispute following the attempt of Myanmar army to set up its base camp at Holenphai, were also came across at the site.

Meanwhile, chief of Holenphai, Lalkholun Haokip said that he was threatened by Myanmar Army when he insisted them to stop erecting fencing that divides the village.

The Myanmar army threatened him of putting him at jail while also telling him to leave the village.

Later, the team inspected Govajang, another village feared to be cut into two by the border fencing.

AMUCO president, Y Mani Khuman said that the erection of the border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border is against international norms.

Strongly asserting that the people of Manipur should never tolerate the fencing, Mani Khuman recalled that AMUCO had convened a public discourse on the matter on Sept 3 .

Although AMUCO and other civil society organisations have made strong objection to the border fencing work, no intimation has been made to them by the Government on its decision in this regard, he rued.

Even as Manipur Govt and Govt of India assured that the territory of Manipur would not be affected by the ongoing border fencing, how the safety of Manipur's territory be ensured by the manner in which the fencing has been erected at Holenphai and Govajang, he categorically asked.

He also heavily came down on both the Govt of Manipur and Govt of India over their silence when border pillar No 79 was replaced with BP No 23 by the Myanmar authority.

Saying that the ongoing border fencing should not be continued without the approval of the people of the State, Mani demanded restoration of Manipur's territory inherited down the centuries.

Saying that the insincerity of the security forces manning the border has encouraged the Myanmar authority to claim Manipur's territory as theirs, Mani demanded that State Force should be entrusted to protect the Indo-Myanmar border.

He pledged that AMUCO would seek recourse at International Law Court if the border fencing is carried against the wish of the people.