Border row surfaces at Kamjong

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 22: A border row has re-surfaced once again between India and Myanmar, this time in Kamjong district after Myanmar laid claims over the area of K Ashang Khullen Aze village, Kamjong district.            
There are three border pillars (91, 92 and 93) at the areas of K Ashang Khullen Aze village between India and Myanmar.
Some people of K Ashang Khullen Aze village started construction of house and other structures near the border pillars sometime back but chiefs and villagers of neighbouring Myanmar villages came to the site with Myanmar army and prohibited all construction works.
While the local villagers have been claiming that the site where they started construction of houses is located around 500 metres away from the border pillars within Indian territory, Myanmar army has been contending that the site falls on the Indo-Myanmar boundary.
As appealed by the Myanmar army officers who came with the Myanmar villagers and village chiefs to halt the construction activities until an amicable solution is reached between competent authorities of the two countries, all construction activities have been suspended.
In the meantime, K Ashang Khullen Aze Village Authority appealed to Phungyar AC MLA and Hill Areas Committee Chairman K Leishiyo to make a spot assessment.
As requested by the village authority, the HAC Chairman went to the contested site on Wednesday.
K Leishiyo was accompanied by Kamjong DC Worshong, Kasom SDO David, ADC Members Somimayar AS, Wungreiyo NS, Ukhrul ADC Vice-Chairman M Isaac, TNAL Chairman Shomi Angkang, TNZL Chairman Joshua K and Major KK of Assam Rifles Kasung post.
CSOs and headmen of villages located on either side of the international border were also present when they made the spot assessment.
Headmen of Indian villages located near the international border said that the old BP No 7 (new no 93) was shifted one Km towards India from its original position by the Myanmar authority sometime back.
K Leishiyo stated that the Government of India needs to resolve the border row at the earliest.
He said that around 100 Kms of India-Myanmar boundary pass through Kamjong district.
Cutting and paving of a road which would reach the site selected for development of a trade centre at K Ashang Khullen Aze village just across Myanmar has been completed.
Cutting of a new road which would connect the trade centre with the markets of Namli and Wangli has also begun. All these sites would be a big ‘land opportunity’ for younger generations, K Leishiyo said.
As such, there is a pressing need to resolve the border row at the earliest, he asserted.
If FMR (Free Movement Regime) is enforced between India and Myanmar,  people of India would be allowed to move 16 Kms inside the territory of Myanmar and vice versa.
A huge employment avenue can be created if FMR is enforced and more trade centres are opened in Kamjong district, he said. Saying that there are six trade centres in Mizoram  and 5/6 trade centres in Tripura at their international borders, Leishiyo asked if there is any reason for not opening more trade centres in Manipur at the international border between India and Myanmar.