Testimonies of more land lost to Myanmar pour in
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 16 2016: Information Centre for Hill Areas Manipur (ICHAM) has expressed strong suspicion of Manipur losing a large tract of land to Myanmar at the time Indo-Myanmar border pillar number 6 and 7 were erected at Choro village.

An ICHAM team led by its president N Rajendro along with media persons recently visited the village to inspect the border areas.

N Rajendro said that no State or Central security force is deployed at the area but the villagers of Choro have been manning the territory of Manipur since the past many centuries.

Saying that Myanmar deploys adequate security forces along the border, Rajendro questioned the Centre and State whether their is any Act which prohibits stationing of security forces to guard the border on Manipur side.

He observed that even if the Centre turns a blind eye to the issue, the State Government must not hesitate to deploy its forces at border areas to prevent incursion.

If immediate steps are not put into effect after demarcating the border of the two neighbouring countries, Manipur would lose its territory again and again, Rajendro said.

Saying that the State Government must acknowledge the fact that Choro villagers have been guarding the territory of Manipur, Rajendro said that they must be encouraged by sending security forces to assist them in their endeavour.

He also expressed wonder why the State Government has not been taken up any step in this regard although they keep on claiming that an inch of Manipur's land would not be given away to anybody.

Rajendro also questioned whether it is not possible to erect border fencing without losing the land of Manipur.

Encroachment on Manipur's land would continue in future as well if the border pillars are not put up after carrying out a thorough demarcation, he said.

Choro village chief Kaphungyei Asarei said that the traditional boundary is no more existent now and Manipur lost around 3-4 kms of land (in the village) to Myanmar at the time of erecting Indo-Myanmar border pillar number 6 and 7 .

They were helpless at that time as Myanmar deployed adequate security forces along the border while Manipur had no security in the village, he lamented.

He urged the Government to finalise the exact boundary line by conducting a joint survey and demarcation of the two countries.

The village chief however said that Choro village would never remain as a silent spectator now when it loses land to Myanmar even if the State and Central Governments do not extend co-operation to them.

They are now ready to give their lives for the land left by the forefathers, he said.

Lamenting that the Government has failed to acknowledge the existence of Choro village, he said that the village would witness development even faster than Moreh if the Government sets up a trade centre there.

However, underdevelopment has plagued the village due to the Government's apathy, he said.

ICHAM general secretary Ngachonmi Ramshang said that the Central and State Governments have ignored the history of Choro village and they sit idle although they know that large tracts of land have been lost to Myanmar in the village.

He said that the country would never see equal development if they continue ignoring interior areas.

Saying that Choro villagers are still reeling under fear and dissatisfaction due to border/land disputes Ngachonmi said that deployment of security forces and proper demarcation of the border area would the final solution of this issue.

Choro villagers said that they usually rely on the neighbouring villages of Myanmar in acquiring essential commodities and household items as the roads on Manipur side are deplorable.

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