The silence of the Lambs : The Indo-Myanmar boundary fencing

Hareshwar Goshwami

Since the dawn of Independence in 1947, India has had boundary issues with neighboring countries like China, Pakistan and Myanmar. The Nation has 15,106.7 km of land border and coastline of 7,516.6 km including island territories having a total stretch of 22,623.3 km. Out of the land border, Indo-Bangladesh shares 4,096.7 km, Indo-China-3,488.0 km., Indo-Pakistan-3,323.0 km, Indo-Nepal–1,751.0 km, Indo-Myanmar-1,643.0 km, Indo-Bhutan-699.0 km, Indo-Afghanistan-106.0 km.

As stated above, the country shares a stretch of 1,643 km long border with Myanmar. Out of this, the States of Arunachal Pradesh share 520 km., Nagaland 215 km, Manipur 398 km, and Mizoram 510 km having a total of approximately 1,643 km. The Government of India felt that the unfenced porous Indo-Myanmar border and Free Movement Regime (FMR) were exploited for unlawful activities including illegal trade and almost became a free passage for illegal migrants. Keeping this in view, the Government of India had initiated action to fence the area between border pillars No. 79 to 81 having an approximate stretch of 10 kilometers from Moreh, towards Kwatha Khunou on the north.

Accordingly, clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, and the Supreme Court were also obtained. Detailed Project Report (DPR)/cost estimates for Rs 35.99 crore have been approved by 2010-11. Out of this total amount, Rs 5.03 crore was paid towards compensatory afforestation to the Government of Manipur. Reconnaissance Survey and Trace Cut (RSTC) work between BP 79 to 81 was also completed. A compensation of Rs 503.68 lakh was also paid to the Government of Manipur for acquisition of the land. Zero Line Survey (ZLS), ie Reconnaissance Survey and Trace Cut (RSTC) in the area proposed to be fenced was also done.

During the Financial Year 2010-11, an amount of Rs 11.08 crore was released to the Border Roads Organization (BRO) for fencing work. Accordingly, fencing work was started by BRO from BP Np 79 situated some few meters away from Indo Myanmar Friendship Gate, locally known as Gate No 2. In the financial year 2011-12 an amount of Rs 4.00 crore was also released to BRO for the work. As per information from BRO, about 1.5 km of fencing was completed by 2012. By 2013 about 4.00 km and by 2014 about 4.02 fencing were also completed respectively.

However, the fencing work was stopped in 2014 due to local protests to verify the disputed boundary pillars especially the stretch of land between boundary pillars No 79 to 81 and its subsidiaries. At that point of time, fencing of 4.02 km out of 10 km approximately had already been completed. Instantly responding to the plea of the people, the then Government of Manipur, led by Shri Okram Ibobi Singh as Chief Minister proposed to conduct re-survey of the boundary line between BP No 79-81 vide Home Department, Government of Manipur letter No. 8/4(I)/2009 – H (BPF) (Pt.I) dated 11th November 2014, addressed to the Joint Secretary ( Home), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The Ministry of Home Affairs had taken up the issue of a re-survey of this stretch of land between BP No.79-81 with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

After a pause of about two and half years, the then Director BM II, (Ministry of Home Affairs), Government of India in its letter dated 7 June 2017 addressed to the Joint Secretary (Home), Government of Manipur stated that the Ministry of External Affairs has viewed the issue of BP No.79-81 as already a settled one and the proposed re-survey would violate the terms and conditions of Indo-Myanmar boundary agreement signed in 1967. Further, the Ministry appealed to the Government of Manipur to cooperate with the fixation of the boundary pillars, brushing aside the sentiment of the local people and the truth beneath it.

However, the matter of boundary fencing came into prominence again when United Committee Manipur (UCM) a civil society organization vehemently opposing the construction of the boundary pillars 81 and 82 alleging that the present sites of the pillars are shifted by a large distance on the Indian side. The Special Secretary (Home), Government of Manipur in its letter No. H-802/16/2020-HD-HD dated 22nd June 2022 addressed to the Union Home Secretary stated that the UCM had announced to continue agitation on 23rd June 2022 in various parts of the State and even threatened to recruit suicidal teams in the process. The Government of Manipur requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to suspend the border fencing where the disputed border pillars No. 81 and 82 are to be erected until the disputes are resolved. Now, people are in the dark about whether these disputes were resolved or not.

To bring back, out of the total stretch of 1643 km on the Indo-Myanmar border, a demarcation of 1472 km has been completed. However, still there are two undermarcated portions along the Indo-Myanmar border: (i) Lohit sub-sector of Arunachal Pradesh -136 km (ii) Kabaw valley in Manipur -35 km. A Joint Boundary Working Committee (JBWG) between India and Myanmar was established to examine all issues related to the Boundary. The mandate of JBWG includes discussion on the settlement of nine unsettled boundary pillars in the Manipur Sector. But, how the disputed boundary pillars were resolved and finalized is still a mystery to the people of the misty mountain.

In the meantime, the Union Home Minister (UHM) reviewed the Indo-Myanmar border issue with the Chief Ministers of Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB) States at Aizawl, Mizoram on 12.06.2017 wherein the issues of streamlining of FMR, basic facilities, and infrastructure in border areas of IMB States were discussed. Construction of a ‘No Construction Zone’, strengthening of security of the Indo- Myanmar Border, security of people living in border areas of Indo-Myanmar Border States, etc. were deliberated. Based on this review a committee constituted with all stakeholders under the Special Secretary (Internal Security), MHA, for preparing Common Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and uniform guidelines for Free Movement Regime. The same was approved by the Union Home Minister and had been reportedly issued.

Now, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in its report 2023-2024, stated that the construction of fencing for a length of 9.214 km at Moreh, Manipur, awarded to BRO has been completed and work on the road along the fencing is in progress. Further, it stated that the construction of a 20.862 km fence and road awarded to BRO in February 2024 is in progress. Thus, ended the story of disputed boundary pillar No.79 to 81 on the Indo-Myanmar border with the lambs watching in silence. Sometimes, the silence of the lambs is far better than the blah blah of the sheep.

The writer is a politician