UCM inspects border fencing, refutes MHA's claim
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 11, 2013: A 13-member team of United Committee Manipur (UCM) along with members of Meetei Council Moreh, All Manipur Students' Union, Chandel District Committee and media persons based at Moreh inspected the ongoing Indo-Myanmar border fencing in Chandel district from August 8 to 10. The team first inspected Govajang Village which is located in between Border Pillar No.79 and 80.However, Chief of Govajang Village Thangkhopao Kipgen was not present in the village at the time of inspection.

The team met his younger brother Lungkhomang Kipgen.

Lungkhomang told the inspection team that Govajang Village was recognized by State Government in 1967 and since then the villagers have been paying hill house tax to the Government.

The villagers enjoy franchise and benefits of various centrally sponsored schemes including MGNREGS.

The loss of large tract of Govajang Village to Myanmar on account of the ongoing border fencing has shown the weakness of State Government which cannot raise any objection to the Centre, he averred.

The team further inspected the boundary which was earlier accepted by the people of both countries.

The previous boundary is now located at about 150 metres from the present border fence on Myanmar side.

The Chief's brother further said that a playground for youths and large paddy fields of the villagers would be lost to Myanmar on account of such border fencing.

Now, the border fencing at Govajang has been put on hold following a court case filed by the Village Chief, he added.

The team assured the villagers of rendering all possible support and assistances to safeguard the territorial integrity of the State.

Later, the team inspected Muslim Basti of Moreh Ward No.5 located at the end of Border Pillar No.79. A prominent member of the village told the inspection team that Muslim Nagar (Pangal Tabi) has been in existence for more than 50 years.

Controversies have emerged as there was no representative from the State while taking up the border fencing.

The villagers had even urged the then CO of 31-Assam Rifles to ensure proper border fencing without affecting the villages.

The border fencing seems to have been taken up in surface area for convenience.

Otherwise, actual border fencing should have been done in the middle of a river that flows from Namphalong in Myanmar to the meeting point of Lairok and Khujairok Rivers, he noted.

The villager further said that there used to be a playground on the riverbank where youths from both Myanmar and Manipur played football together promoting peace and harmony between the two countries.

However, the border fencing has created a rift between the youths.

The villagers would further face scarcity of water if the border fencing from Border Pillars No.79 to 77 is completed.

When the villagers made complaint, the officials concerned simply said that the gates along the border fence would be opened during daytime and closed during night time.

The villagers are told to fetch water from the river at the time of opening the gate, he said.

The team also inspected Jangnoi Village, Kwatha Khunou, L Monphei, B Bongjang, T Minou Village, Holenphai and Temple of Tamil Sangam.

The villagers of the affected villages have expressed firm commitment to safeguard the State's territorial integrity and vowed not to give even an inch of land to Myanmar.

Meanwhile, addressing media persons at the office of UCM here today, its President Yumnam Nabachandra strongly refuted the statement of the Ministry of Home Affairs on border fencing and said that the Indian Government has taken up the border fencing only with the objective of protecting the security personnel in utter disregard of the people's sentiment at the loss of large territory of Manipur to Myanmar.

"The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had said no fencing work was started in the border pillar 79 due to dispute with Myanmar, but on the contrary, the work had started from Govajang till Jangnoi village and 11 households of Govajang village have already been included in the Myanmar side by the border fencing," the UCM president pointed out.

Observing that about 150 metres of Manipur territory inherited from our forefathers will be lost to Myanmar due to border fencing work, Nabachandra made it clear that people of Manipur would not allow disintegration of the State due to the ongoing Indo-Myanmar border fencing.

The Indian Government should immediately stop the border fencing unless the international boundaries are amicably settled, he demanded.

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