Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 17
The Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC) has beseeched the Government of India and Myanmar not to divide their people living on both sides of the international border by way of construction of border security fencing.
In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister of the Government of India and the President of the Union of Republic, the KTC through its president P Mongchua and general secretary Puchai PM expressed astonishment to learn that its territory had been divided by drawing imaginary lines from B/pillar No-139 to 146 for construction of border security fencing between the Government of India and Myanmar.
It also resented that the indigenous people and the rightful owner have been kept under the dark on this matter.
“Our land and people cannot be divided by any external forces and aggressors by putting up fencings and drawing imaginary lines under the guise and pretext of national security and defenses as there are no land disputes among the people of Khiamniungan though living under two different country and political entity,” the memorandum read.
Maintaining that since time immemorial the Khiamniungan people had its own territory, tradition, culture and customary usages and practices and has been living as one people, the Council asserted that the tribe though divided and living separately under imaginary boundary between India and Myanmar, there has been no land dispute and encroachment because they were descendants of the same ancestors.
“We have been living and will continue to live as one people with one aspiration and is opposed to the policy of constructing border security fencing within our jurisdiction/area at any cost and eventuality,” the memorandum vowed.
