Committee surveys sites at Hollenphai village
Source: The Sangai Express

Moreh, August 26 2013: Members of the committee constituted by the State Government with Principal Secretary (Home) Dr J Suresh Babu as chairman to study the uproar raised over the purported move of the Myanmar army to setup a camp at Hollenphai village in Manipur sector today inspected the sites as well as the international boundary where border fencing is being constructed on the Indian side.

The team conducted a field assessment of the borderline from Muslim Basti (BP 79) to Govajang village.

They also talked with the Govajang village chief.

Then they went to Hollenphai and marched up to a spot where Myanmar has erected border pillar numbered 23.The team observed materials being gathered there for construction of a Myanmar army camp.

From Hollenphai, Suresh Babu and his team went to the place where Tamil Sangam has a temple.

This place is believed to be the site of BP 78 and here Myanmar has already erected its BP 21 .

Hollenphai village where Myanmar army attempted to set up a camp

Interacting with media persons who were present at the field survey, Dr J Suresh Babu stated that they were here as instructed by the Government to make a direct assessment of the different issues stemming from border the fencing and other issues.

He stated that location of nine border pillars along Indo-Myanmar border is contested between the two countries.

The Government of Manipur has already taken up the issue with the Government of India and urged New Delhi to resolve the issue by way of a joint survey by the two countries.

Saying that the border issues cannot be resolved unilaterally, Dr Suresh Babu informed that they would submit a report to the Government about their field assessment of the border fencing and other findings.

He stated that they have made a field study of the situation in Govajang village bounded BP 79 and BP 80 where 78 house are likely to be left out on the side of Myanmar once the border fencing work is completed.

Maintaining that many people seemed to have a misplaced notion about border fencing, the Principal Secretary said that border fence does not represent the exact boundary between two countries.

Border fencing is actually security fencing aimed at checking cross-border movement of people in unlawful manner and other illegal activities.

The Government of India is determined to keep its boundary fully secured.

According to international norms, border fence is usually constructed 10 metres away from the border pillars.

Almost 4 Kms is left out while constructing border fence in some sectors of Indo-Pakistan border.

Between BP 79 and BP 81, the border fence has 18 officially approved gates.

These gates are intended to allow movement of villagers across the border fence for cultivation and other purposes inside Indian territory.

There is no question of Indian or Myanmar authority curtailing movement of villagers.

BP 76 (Hollenphai) and BP 78 (Moreh town) are being disputed and the dispute cannot be resolved until and unless the two countries can come to a mutual understanding.

After Indian officials lodged a protest with Myanmar authorities, the work to clear off some areas in Hollenphai for the purpose of building an army camp has been put on hold.

Myanmar is a friendly country, not a hostile neighbour.

On being asked about the border villages of Ukhrul district, Suresh Babu assured that the Government of Manipur would act by keeping in mind the pulse of people settled in border areas.

The Government would never compromise under any circumstances on the question of the State's territorial integrity.

Even though the Indian Foreign Secretary has already put across a proposal to constitute a joint committee for resolving all outstanding issues between the two countries and Myanmar officials have forwarded the same proposal to their higher authorities, no clear response has been received so far.

Assam Rifles have been guarding the boundary of Manipur based on the map given by the Survey of India.

Border pillars numbered 21 and 23 might be past border pillars of Burma.

If the new numbering system is applied, border pillar 23 is believed to be BP 76 and border pillar 21 is most likely to be BP 78 .

Just as the Indian side thinks that Myanmar has intruded into India at Hollenphai, they also feel that there is incursion from the side of India, Suresh Babu said.

Such misconceptions and misunderstandings can be discussed at the level of DCs or Governments.

The field survey and border inspection was also participated by 26 Sector AR DIG Brig Rajiv Mankotia, 9 AR CO Anadi Atriya, Chandel DC Chittaranjan, IG (Intelligence) KT Vaiphei, ADC Moreh Robert Kshetrimayum, SP Chandel E Priyokumar and CPLBF convenor Brojendro Ningomba and ICHAM president N Rajendro.