DIMAPUR, JANUARY 19 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang has urged the Government of India to ask its Myanmar counterpart to stop the border fencing in Noklak area of Tuensang district, since this would adversely affect free movement of the people in the area and also the traditional land holding system.
A press note from the CMO informed that Zeliang had a meeting with the Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh late Wednesday night, where the former pointed out that the people of Noklak area stand to lose some 3500 acres of land.
“Border fencing is also not in tune with the Free Movement Regime shared by both India and Myanmar,” Zeliang pointed out and added that “unlike the country’s borders with Pakistan, people of the area have been living peacefully together since time immemorial and there is no need for border fencing.”
“The communities living on both sides of the border in these areas have very close cultural and social affinities and there are instances where people hold land on both sides of the border,” Zeliang said. “Moreover, the Act East policy of the Government of India intends to improve trade and communications across the Indo-Myanmar border and fencing of the boundaries would defeat the very purpose of Act East Policy.”
The Union Home Minister meanwhile informed that the MHA has written to the Ministry of External Affairs to take up with the Government of Myanmar not to proceed with border fencing on their side. The Government of Nagaland had earlier, on December 22, 2016 written to the Home Ministry to take up the matter with the Government of Myanmar to avoid border fencing.
Construction of boundary fencing between BP 145 and 146 by the Government of Myanmar bordering Noklak sub division was taken up for discussion at the 22nd Sectoral Level Meeting between the Government of Myanmar and the Government of India on December 19, 2016, the CMO further informed.
