MHA to invite Myanmar for bilateral talks to resolve fencing issue

IMPHAL, November 7: The Ministry of Home Affairs will approach the Myanmarese government for resolving the current Indo-Myanmar border row at Moreh in Chandel district at the diplomatic level, said Shambu Singh, joint secretary in charge of North East, Ministry of Home Affairs.

The union government will invite Myanmar for a bilateral meeting at the end of this month or the first week of next year.

The joint secretary stated this during his official inspection conducted today at Moreh along with officials from the MHA, Surveyor General of India, BRO officials and delegates of joint political parties team of the state. The inspection was led by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.

The visiting officials from the Delhi were joint secretary border (Management) SK Mishra; Director of Suveryor General of India (SOI), Srinivas; KK Das Sarkar of SOI, Chief Engineer of BRO Sewak Project, VK Agarwal,

The joint team personally inspected the Border pillar number 23 at Holanphai Village, BP 77, 21 near Tamil Sangam, BP 79 Muslim Basti, BP 80 at Govajang village.

Further speaking to media persons, Shambu Singh observed that the current border issue can be divided into two sections - one fencing dividing villages and confusion of border pillars which is causing an uneasy atmosphere.

“We have to go by what had been agreed upon long ago or if the outcome it is not positive we will raise the issue at bilateral level to have a relook”, Shambu added.

Terming the issue as more complicated when compared to Indo-Bangla and Indo-Pakistan border issues, he claimed that series of meeting was held with regards to the issue and have been inviting the Myanmar authority but the problem is that none of the competent authority of Myanmar came forward for the reasons best known to them, he said.

We have to adopt give and take policy he said adding that in order to reach to a compromise solution both the nations must understand each other problems. “We have to accept some and give some”, he further added.

The issue needs to be addressed in bilateral manner with both the nations coming to a table as Myanmar is a friendly neighbour. For this the Indian side will call on the Myanmar Government and raised relevant issues pertaining to the current border row including reports of alleged intimidation and disturbances in the process, said Shambu.

If need be the GOI will persuade Myanmar to conducted a joint resurvey of “Zero” point, concluded the joint secretary NE MHA.

Attributing the current outcome (inspection of central official team) to the sincere initiative of the joint political party team led by the Chief Minister, Gaikhangam expressed appreciation towards the Government of India and hoped that it will yield positive results.

Further, he expressed his optimism that the GOI will settle the issue satisfying the expectation of the people.

The deputy Chief Minister appealed to the general public, security forces and other agencies to be more responsive in informing the authority concerned in the event of any incidents that could affect the interest of the nation.

At the same time, he urged law enforcing agencies including AR, state forces etc to be more alert.

During the inspection the Committee on Protection of Land in Border Fencing (CPLBF), Manipur and ICHAM jointly submitted a memorandum to the visiting officials.

Meanwhile, amidst the tension officials from Myanmar side intruded into Indian territory and halted the ongoing construction work of Integrated Check Post on the pretext that the work is being carried out near the area of disputed border pillar. However, the work resumed later following the intervention of the SDPO Moreh, Balaram.