Manipur's territory cannot be sacrificed: UCM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 25 2018: In the backdrop of Tamu Deputy District Administrator Nyein Tun Kyaw's intimation to the Tengnoupal Deputy Com missioner that Indian officials may visit border pillar no 81 only from Indian side and they are not welcomed in Myanmar, the United Committee Manipur (UCM) has categorically stated that the Government of India must not sacrifice any part of Manipur's territory in their efforts to suppress insurgency.

Surveyors of India and Myanmar jointly inspected the contested BP 81 on June 22.A joint team of India and Myanmar which included surveyors of both the countries recently inspected the existing pillars along Indo-Myanmar border.

After inspecting the border pillars, surveyors of both the countries have now come back, informed a source.

In connection with the surveyors' field visit, the Tengnoupal DC sent a letter to the Myanmar authority on June 20.In response, Tamu Deputy District Administrator Nyein Tun Kyaw sent a letter to the Tengnoupal DC saying that Indian officials may inspect BP 81 by travelling through Indian territory but they should not travel within the territory of Myanmar.

Copies of Nyein Tun Kyaw's letter were also sent to ADC Moreh, Tengnoupal SP, 11 AR Commander (based at Moreh), LHR 89 Commander (based at Tamu), Tamu District Police commander, Commissioner of Tamu and Tamu General Administration Department.

Meanwhile, UCM has asserted that the Government of India has been following policies which can shrink the boundary of Manipur in their efforts to appease Myanmar.

Speaking to media persons at their Lamphelpat office today, UCM president Sunil Karam said that India should not sacrifice any part of Manipur to Myanmar in their efforts and strategy to exterminate insurgents.

Encroachment by Myanmar and erection of border pillars within the territory of Manipur is not something new.

BP 81 was erected around 20 days back near Kwatha Khunou leaving out 3 Kms of Manipur's territory to the Myanmarese side.

Alleging that India and Myanmar signed an agreement about two years back at Dehradun headquarters of the Geological Survey of India whereby the two countries agreed to erect a border pillar 3 Kms inside Manipur's territory at Kwatha Khunou, Sunil condemned the same agreement and said that it is unacceptable to the people of Manipur.

People of Manipur have not yet recovered fully from the shock caused by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru when he gave away Manipur's Kabow Valley to Myanmar.

Then the Government of India under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee made an open attempt to distort the boundary of Manipur when it signed the Bangkok Declaration on June 14, 2001 in which the clause 'without territorial limits' was inserted in the cease fire agreement with the NSCN (IM).

The UCM president categorically stated that the Government of India should not sacrifice any part of Manipur's territory in its strategy to appease Myanmar and exterminate the State's insurgents.

The State's territory cannot be compromised with insurgency or suppression of insurgency.

He went on to ask if India is sincere enough to end insurgency or militancy and ready to give away Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan in case they are adopting such an approach in Manipur.

The State Government and the Government of India should bring out a white paper on the contested border pillar nos 80, 81, 82 and 83.In case the white paper is not produced at the earliest, UCM would be compelled to launch civil movements together with the masses, Sunil Karam said.

If the Government of India and the State Government are not in a position to safeguard the boundary of Manipur, people will take up the same responsibility.

"Since ages, our ancestors and forefathers were protecting the boundary of Manipur.

All the questions of integrity, identity and even survival would become meaningless when our territory has been given away", he said.

If the Government of India does not see the territory of Manipur as a part of India, it would be quite logical for the people of Manipur to seek reversion to the pre-merger, independent status, he continued.

He said that UCM would conduct a spot enquiry on the controversial BP 81 within two days.

The next course of action would be decided after the spot enquiry in consultation with the masses.

Sunil also lauded Tengnoupal DC A Tombikanta's bold statement that he would not sign any agreement with Myanmar authority in connection with erection of border pillars even if he is instructed to do so by the State Government.

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