Centre stops Manipur Government from pursuing border row
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 07, 2013: Regardless of the public sentiment over the issue of ongoing �faulty' border fencing process being carried out along Indo-Myanmar International boundary that has led to loss of a large chunk of Manipur's land to Myanmar, the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, has instructed Chief Minister O Ibobi not to send his Ministerial team to inspect the disputed border areas.

According to a highly reliable source, on receiving information that a Ministerial team led by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds the portfolio of Home, is set to inspect the ongoing border fencing process, the Ministry of External Affairs has served a written instruction to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh not to pursue the matter, maintaining that allowing a Ministerial team to inspect the border fencing at this juncture is not the right step.

The instruction of the Ministry was even discussed during the recently held meeting of the Congress legislature Party (CLP).

The CM read out the entire content of the letter served to him by the Ministry.

The letter contended that frequent inspection of the disputed border fencing sites would ultimately aggravate the bilateral relation between the two neighbouring countries.

While reading out the content of the letter, the Chief Minister stated that India wants to keep a cordial relation with Myanmar and the untiring effort of the Indian Government to bring about a good relation with Myanmar might be hampered by the present issue of border fencing, the source said, adding that even if they know the instruction of the Ministry was not in the interest of the people, none of the other members present in the CLP meeting dared to speak up openly fearing the wrath of the CM.

Noneheless, Chief Minister O Ibobi who is well-aware that the public of Manipur would never remain silent over the matter, assured that if at all the Ministerial team has to proceed with the inspection visit, then it has to wait for favourable timing.

Meanwhile, a six-member MLA team of Opposition parties today visited the border villages along Indo-Myanmar international boundary to make an assessment of the ongoing border fencing that has reportedly led to loss of a large chunk of land to the neighbouring country.

The MLA team led by Opposition leader Dr I Ibohalbi arrived at Moreh town in Chandel district just before midday.

From there they went straight to Holenphai, Govajang and other border villages.

The Opposition has claimed that huge portion of Manipur's border land areas have been ceded to Myanmar in the border fence construction.

Other members in the MLA team included Th Biswajit of Thongju A/C, M Kunjo, Th Shyamkumar of Andro A/C, O Lukhoi and K Sharat of Konthoujam A/C. Sources said the team is likely to submit a report on the visit to the Centre soon and put pressure for addressing the issue.

The Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing Committee headed by Principal Secretary (Home) Dr J Suresh Babu had earlier made a spot assessment of the international border fencing in Manipur's Chandel district on August 26 last.

During the visit the Committee inspected Haolenphai and Govajang villages, and Tamil Sangam area located between Moreh Gate No 1 and 2 which have been apparently affected by the Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing.

However, the Principal Secretary (Home) during the trip had claimed that the current Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing was just a "security barrier".

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