Large portion of Goubajang village lost to Myanmar
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 27 2013 : The border dispute between Manipur and Myanmar is getting tensed with large portion of Goubajang Village going into the hands of Myanmarese authorities as a result of the ongoing Indo-Myanmar border fencing.

Goubajang has been a part of Manipur and the villagers are paying hill house taxes to the State Government.

The village lies at about three kilometres from Moreh town.

To take stock of the ongoing border fencing, a joint team of Information Centre for Hill Areas Manipur (ICHAM), Kuki Students' Organization (KSO), Moreh Block, Kuki Chiefs' Association, Moreh Block and Rural People Development Federation (RPDF) inspected Goubajang Village yesterday.

The inspection team included General Secretary of ICHAM Ngachomi Ramshang, Publicity Secretary of ICHAM Immison, Member of RPDF Kamboi Baite, Ex President of RPDF Th Thomsing, President of KSO Moreh Block H Thongkhongam Mate, Vice president Kuki Chief Association, Moreh Block Letngam Lupho, Chief of Goubajang Village Thangpao Kipgen and his wife Ningneichong Kipgen.

The joint team inspecting border-fencing at Goubajang

Addressing media persons at the residence of Chief of Goubajang Village, President of KSO, Moreh Block Thongkhongam said that Goubajang Village has been divided between India and Myanmar due to ongoing border fencing.

The villagers have now lost means of livelihood after their paddy fields and other agricultural land went into the hands of Myanmarese authorities.

The villagers are also restricted to move freely around the village due to border fencing.

The State Government should take up this issue to the highest level and stop the ongoing border fencing works, he averred.

Vice-President of Kuki Chiefs' Association, Moreh Block Letngam Lupho said that most parts of Manipur would go to Myanmar if the State Government does not take the border dispute seriously.

The ongoing border fencing works should be stopped and the demarcation should be done based on the boundaries which have been agreed by both countries for years, he noted.

He further decried the State Government's policy of preventing settlement in some hill areas reserved as wildlife sanctuaries.

Chief of Goubajang Village Thangpao Kipgen said that the Village Authority has submitted several memorandums to Ministry of Home Affairs on the issue of border fencing.

However, the border fencing works began all of a sudden without proper demarcation and identification of villages.

About two-third of the total area of Goubajang has been lost to Myanmar.

The straight demarcation from Border Pillar 79 to 80 has resulted to the loss of Manipur's territory by about 50 metres to one kilometre, he pointed out.

Goubajang villagers have even filed a case to High Court on border fencing.

The State Government should intervene in the ongoing border fencing and prevent loss of large territory of the State, he demanded.

The Chief further stated that more villages along Indo-Myanmar border would be lost if the border fencing works keep on going.

B Bongjang, Kwatha Khunou, Nongkam, L.Molphei, Satang, Choktong, Waksu, Lamdong Khunou, Yangoupokpi and Moirengthel village would be lost to Myanmar due to this border fencing, he added.