MLA questions India's foreign policy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 22 2013: With reference to the present controversy over boundary fencing along Manipur sector of the Indo-Myanmar border, NCP State unit president L Ibomcha has questioned whether India is following a foreign policy aimed at persuading Myanmar Government to flush out Manipur rebels taking shelter in their territory in exchange for areas of Manipur.

Speaking to media persons at his Keishamthong Laisom Leirak residence today, Ibomcha maintained that international boundary is not something which can be made to disappear just because one side wishes.

Positions of boundary pillars can be established easily by using advanced technology.

Even if some boundary pillars have disappeared, positions of internationally agreed boundary pillars cannot vanish.

There is no need for the reported ongoing manual joint survey.

Boundary fencing should be constructed after leaving out some areas from the no man's land in accordance to interna-tional norms.

It is now clear that large tracts of Manipur's invaluable territory have been left for the convenience of con-tractors executing the border fencing work.

Disappearance of boundary pillars and loss of Mani- pur's territory to Myanmar was discussed on July 15, 2002 during the third session of the 8th Manipur Legislative Assembly after he raised a star question, recalled the NCP MLA.

Replying to the question, Chief Minister O Ibobi admitted that boundary pillar nos 101, 66,78 and 79 have disappeared.

The Chief Minister further stated that a joint team of Myanmar and India was conducting a survey into the matter.

It would be worthwhile if the Government of Manipur can find out whether any report of the joint survey conducted 11 years back was submitted to the Government of India.

Again when MLA Ibom- cha pointed out that BP No 87 was erected by Myanmar authority 500 metres inside the territory of Manipur, Ibobi maintained that the Government would not allow dis- appearance of border pillars or erection of border pillars inside Manipur's territory.

Conveying deep concern whether the Chief Minister's assurance was dismissed by the Government of India, Ibomcha cautioned that the Government of India would not pay due attention to the issue unless the Government of Manipur take up the issue with due urgency and seriousness it deserves.

It is only Manipur and her people who stand to lose if the State Government commits another blunder of believing Government of India's lip service.

For such a serious issue, there should not be any division like Congress and non-Congress.

He further called upon all political parties as well as non-political organisations to join hands and prevent loss of Manipur's territory by a single inch to Myanmar.

Saying that NCP has been urging upon the Government to convene a meeting of all political parties on the border issue, Ibomcha informed that a team of NCP State would go to Delhi and apprise the issue to the party's national leaders in order to exert strong pressure on the Prime Minister and other relevant Union Ministers.

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