(Left) Trees have been cut down for the construction of a camp by the
Myanmar Army at Holenphai village in Manipur; a Myanmar Army officer
talks with Indian officials, near Moreh - the border town of Manipur.
Imphal, Aug 23 : The Manipur government has taken a serious view of the Myanmarese Army preparations to construct a temporary Army camp at Holenphai village, located 3 km from the police station at Moreh — the border town of Manipur. The State government is in contact with the Centre regarding the development, according to official sources.
Attempts to defuse the crisis by dissuading the Myanmarese Army officers
from suspending the work till a final settlement is brought about were
not fruitful as the officers said that they cannot do anything against
the orders from their higher officials.
Meanwhile, several voluntary organisations and political parties in
Manipur have been demanding the suspension of the work by Myanmarese
Army personnel to erect a border fence as large chunks of the State’s
land will be lost. Once the fence is erected, almost half of the 14
tribal villages in Chandel district will be go to Myanmar. In the case
of Choro in Ukhrul district, the entire village will be on the
Myanmarese side of the fence. These political parties and NGOs have been
threatening massive agitations to protect Manipur's land.
Earlier, on the basis of complaints from Myanmar, erection of the 10
km-long border fence at Moreh had been suspended; Myanmar had said that
its land had been encroached upon. The construction of the Integrated
Check Post office was also suspended on similar ground.
The Myanmarese Army had started cutting trees at Holenphai village for
the construction of a temporary Army base-camp, following which the
village chief informed the district officials about the development.
Robert Khetrimayum, Additional Collector of Moreh, accompanied by
sub-divisional police officer H. Balram, and Moreh police commando unit
office-in-charge Sadananda visited the village on Thursday.
The official team found the Myanarmese Army cutting trees in the
village. The Additional Collector told the commanding officer of 87
Light infantry of the Myanmarese Army to suspend the works till a
settlement is brought about. However, the commanding officer was not
happy that the Indian officials had come inside the “territory” of
Myanmarr. He told the Indian officials that he cannot do anything unless
his higher officials gave him orders.
He also told the Indian officials that according to a map of the Britishers, this area is well within Myanmar.
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