Myanmar's bid to set up camp at Hollenphai village
Protest lodged with Tamu DC, MHA seeks status report
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 23 2013 : Even as the Union Home Ministry has sought a status report from the Assam Rifles, SDPO Moreh H Balaram who is also the Immigration Officer stationed at the border town has sent a strongly worded formal protest to the Tamu DC against the Myanmar army's attempt to open a platoon base camp at Holenphai, just 3 Kms to the south of Moreh.

A source from the Union Home Ministry said that the site where Myanmar has tried to set up the base camp falls in the "No construction zone of 10 metres from the border" .

The Assam Rifles has convinced the Myanmar army to put on hold the construction work of the camp, added the source.

A meeting between Assam Rifles authorities and Myanmar Army is likely to be held at Moreh tomorrow to discuss the latest development, said the source further.

When The Sangai Express contacted the PRO of Assam Rifles on the purported claim of the CO of 87 Light Infantry of the Myanmarese army that the CO of 9 Assam Rifles at Moreh has been intimated about the camp to come up at Hollenphai a month back, the PRO said, "No such intimations or reports were submitted to the 9 AR CO or the Assam Rifles authorities, under any capacity" .

Trees which have been felled to set up the base camp at Hollenphai

The protest note suggested the Tamu DC to maintain status quo at the boundary line at Holenphai along Manipur sector of the Indo-Myanmar border.

It also proposed a joint meeting between armies of the two countries.

After the State Government officials lodged a complaint yesterday, Myanmar army have kept on hold their activities of clearing trees at the site for construction of a military camp.

Myanmar army have one of their camps just 1.5 Km away from Holenphai.

It is possible that they may come back and construct another camp at Holenphai any time.

However, as for the controversies at border pillar No 76, Assam Rifles should organise a meeting with their Myanmarese counterparts for resolving the dispute.

In case the Myanmar army do not retract their steps, tension is bound to build up at the border.

According to reports reaching here, Assam Rifles has intensified patrolling in and around Hollenphai village.

Meanwhile, the State Home Department has demanded a detailed report on the situation from the Assam Rifles.

Significantly, the CO of 87 Light Infantry of the Myanmarese Army had maintained that the camp at Hollenphai is being set up under the directives of the higher ups in the Government of Myanmar, when district officials, including the ADC of Moreh, SDPO of Moreh police and the OC of Moreh police commandos rushed to the spot and urged Myanmar officials to stop the construction work.

The latest development comes close on the heels of various voices raised against the border fencing work on the ground that the fences have been built on the side of Manipur, with a number of villages falling on the side of Myanmar.