India has sought the setting up of a joint working group with Burma to settle the issue of the undemarcated portion of the border near border pillar 76 after Indian border guarding forces stopped the Burmese Army from constructing a defence post in the area. The area falls next to Holenphai village close to the Moreh sector of Manipur’s Chandel district where there is no demarcation of the boundary between the two countries. The Assam Rifles has told the Union home ministry that Burmese troops had resorted to the felling of trees near BP (Border Pillar) 76 for the construction of a temporary Platoon headquarter, in violation of the existing norm between the two countries which does not allow any construction activity within 10 metres of Unverified BP’s. External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said India has suggested a Joint Border Working Group (JBWP) to Burma. He said the norm is that neither country would construct anything within 10 metres of the border but in the case of border pillar 76, this norm has been breached by the Burmese forces. At the same time, he emphasised that since the construction was on the Burmese side of the border, it was neither an intrusion nor an incursion. The spokesperson further said that the matter has been taken up at the diplomatic level, and given the close bilateral relations with Burma, the issue will be taken up and carried forward bilaterally in the spirit of good neighbourly relations. The Union home ministry too said there has been no intrusion by the Burmese forces and said the issue has been ‘’amicably resolved’’ by the border guarding forces on both sides. MHA officials also pointed out that though the the construction activity by Burmese forces was taking place “within their territory’’, the understanding between the two sides has been that there will be no defence posts near the disputed border area where BP 76 is situated. “We have very friendly relations with Burma. If the Burmese forces construct their posts near the undemarcated border post, we will also be constrained to do the same in the future. But, this will only increase the risks of unprovoked firing which both sides will strictly avoid,” a senior government functionary said. Sources said Assam Rifles held immediate meetings with the Burmese forces and prevailed upon them to stop such construction activity when it came to light last week that construction materials had been dumped for erection of fencing and the camp close to the international boundary in Manipur’s Chandel district. Manipur chief minister O. Ibobi Singh also reported to the Union home ministry prompting New Delhi to step in and raise the issue the Burmese government. New Delhi is hopeful of a positive response from Burma on the JBWP to resolve the issue. Manipur governor Ashwini Kumar and a team led by Manipur’s principal secretary home have also visited the area and interacted with the village chiefs and officials on the ground. The state government had earlier urged the central government to ask Burma to stop construction of the border fencing till a joint survey of the area was made by both the Indian and the Burmese governments.
