PRJA urges Govt to hear Kwatha villagers' claim
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 09 2018: Erendro Leichombam, convener of Peoples' Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) has claimed that the border pillar of the Indo-Myanmar border should be on the right side of Manjet Lok on the side of Myanmar as clearly mentioned in the March 10, 1967 Boundary Agreement of Rangoon between the Government of India and Government of Union of Myanmar.

He made the statement during an interaction with media persons in Imphal today evening.

Erendro said that in the boundary agreement signed between the two countries in the year 1967 at Rangoon, it is clearly mentioned that the border pillar number 81 is located on the right side of Manjet Lok (which is on Myanmar side) but at present the pillar is on the left side (Manipur side) which indicates that the villagers of Kwatha village have been telling the truth.

He said that it is very unfortunate the High Power Committee constituted by the State Government and led by Minister Karam Shyam asked the villagers of Kwatha villagers to produce proper documents and proofs without listening to the locals properly and scolded the villagers without knowing the actual fact/truth from the villagers.

The act of VIP culture shown by the High Power Committee towards the villagers is condemnable, he added.

Erendro continued that as it has been clearly written in the document of the Central Government where the pillar has to be situated and as such, the Government must act swiftly and shift the pillar from the left side (in Manipur) towards the right side of Manjet Lok.

He also stated that pillar number 81 is just an example, as there are many unnoticed border pillars which might have been shifted from one place to another and appealed to the Government to conduct a resurvey of the border pillars from the beginning.

It was earlier reported that the DC Tengnoupal had stated that he received documents from the Home Ministry to sign and approve the location of the border pillar which he had reportedly denied by mentioning that if he signed the document, a huge area of the State would be lost and he clearly mentioned that the border pillar should be on the other side of Manjet Lok and not towards Manipur.

He also said that the External Affair Ministry had released a statement yesterday which mentioned that the State Government is aware about the issue which clearly indicate that the State Government has a proper knowledge of the present border pillar issue.

He asked on what ground the State Government claimed that the pillar is the genuine one and there is no conflict regarding the border pillar.

The State Government and the High Power Committee should heed the genuine claims of the villagers of Kwatha Khunou which they (the authorities) have denied till date, Erendro added.

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