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Mizzima: Manipur to look into borde



Manipur to look into border disputes with Burma

Imphal, August 16, 2000
Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)

The Government of Manipur recently formed a seven-member Cabinet
sub-committee headed by its Deputy Chief Minister Dr. L. Chandramani
Singh to look into the lost of the state territory, which it claims
being occupied by neighbouring Burma.

According to Mr. O. Joy Singh, president of Manipur People's Party
(MPP), the state has lost 29 square kilometers of land after the 1981
census. The state territory was 22, 356 square kilometers but it shrunk
to 22,327 after 1981 census.

"Now, the question is whether this particular area of 29 sq. kms is lost
in the hand of foreign territory or it is in the hand of neighbouring
states (of India), such as Assam and Nagaland. If it is in the hand of
neighbouring states, it will be within the territory of India but if it
is in the hand of Burma, for example, it will be the lost of territory
of India to a foreign country", said Mr. O. Joy Singh in an interview
with Mizzima.

Mr. O. Joy Singh, who raised the matter long back in 1984-85, has
recently raised the issue during the State Assembly discussions held
last month.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Chandramani Singh then informed the house that
the "lost land" is in fact in the hand of Burma and it is being occupied
by the neighbouring country.

The government, in the first week of August constituted the Cabinet
committee to look into the issue of "lost land" and apprise the Central
government about the matter. The Centre has been so far silent on the
issue despite repeated reminders of the state government in the past.

Dr. Chandramani Singh further told that the new Cabinet committee would
submit a report on the matter soon and a meeting of all political
parties would be called to seek the opinions.