MPP slams Govt on boundary fencing row
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 02 2013 : Deman-ding that Government of Manipur immediately swing into action to stop the ongoing boundary fencing work along the Indo-Myanmar border, Manipur People's Party has asked the Government to initiate necessary measures failing which MPP will launch strong agitation.

Speaking to mediapersons at its office today, MPP president N Sovakiran said a 12-member MPP team led by the party general secretary N Singhajit and Youth Front president M Ronel visited the boundary-fencing affected villages along the Manipur side from July 31 .

Members of the team who returned here today were also present at the media briefing.

Referring to frequent remarks of the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, with regard to demands for homeland and separate administration from certain ethnic groups, that not an inch of Manipur's territory would be compromised, Sovakiran opined that CM's assurances seemed to be diversionary tactics as Manipur stands to lose several hundred square kilometres in case the boundary fencing work continues along the demarcated zones.

Stating that the MPP team covered Govazang, Yangnoi, B Bongyang, Molphei, Nungkam, Saitang, Tatyang, Yangoupokpi and S Molzon villages located along the Indo-Myanmar border during their three-day ground assessment visit, the MPP chief said most of these border villages would either be clustered as Myanmarese hubs or lose substantial geographical area upon completion of the fencing work.

Some of the team members joining the media briefing quoted a village elder as saying that an earlier survey conducted by the Indo-Burma Border Survey of India from 1969 till 1970 resulted in Manipur ceding present-day Tamu town to Myanmar.

Pointing to gradual disappearances of border pillars along the international boundary as an indication that the international neighbour had been deliberately encroaching into Indian territory, the village elder reportedly expressed serious concerned that eventually Manipur will have to part ways with many other border villages in the coming years.

Citing Namphalong market on the Myanmar side as yet another example of Manipur's territory continuing to shrink by reminding that the market place used to be referred as Sephok when it was on the indian side, the MPP team conveyed the village elder as saying that the future of Manipur is entirely dependent on patriotic zeal and commitment of the present generation to safeguard boundaries bestowed by the forefathers.

Affirming that MPP will not tolerate any further cession of Manipur's territory, the inspection team members also questioned why the chandel district authorities are not assessing the ground reality under which the border fencing work is being carried out.

Observing that absence of pre-emptive action on the part of the Manipur Government would be rhetorical in establishing cordial relationships between the people of Myanmar and Manipur, they also accused Congress party leaders of betraying the people by remaining silent inspite of seriousness of the issue.

Asking Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to take immediate pro-active measures for halting the border fencing work and work out a viable solution, MPP cautioned that further inaction on the matter would trigger serious upheaval in the State.

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