AIZAWL, Sept 22 NNN : Border disputes among the North Eastern states have been, to some extent, responsible for creating differences between two groups of people across the borders or misunderstanding between two neighbouring governments or even to the degree of exchanging of fire between security forces of the two neighbouring states.
Border disputes between Assam and Nagaland, Meghalaya and Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, and Mizoram and Assam.
In the latest such problem, the administrations of Mizoram and Assam have taken measures to prevent any escalation of volatile situation between the two states on Saturday.
Tension prevails in the Assam-Mizoram border since last week following the allegation hurled by Zoram National Party (ZNP) that Assam was trying to grab the land of Mizoram. Adding fuel to this tension was yesterday’s incident where a border pillar was found dismantled at a place called at Dhalai in southern Assam. The villagers in Assam alleged that people from Mizoram side came and destroyed the pillar. Assam and Mizoram share a common border of 123 kilometres. However, the people residing in the Mizoram side counter alleged that a pillar was erected near Vairengte in Mizoram by authorities from Assam side claim as their land.
Meanwhile, Mizo People’s Convention (MPC) president Lalhmangaiha Sailo said the dispute can be settled by constituting a coundary commission that will hold negotiation with the concerned higher authority.
Saying that over the past years various political parties and leaders of Mizoram state had dealt the issue of border dispute with the neighbouring Assam state “but till date no solution is in sight.” MPC proposed that the problem on the boundary dispute could be solved by constituting a boundary commission and by way of negotiation.
Lalhmangaiha Sailo then claimed that the boundary line accepted by Mizoram is that of the one demarcated by the Mizo chiefs and the British Government in the year 1875. “However, in the passage of time, the Assam state does not accept that boundary line and therefore dispute on boundary has occurred between the two states since the time of District Council,” the Mizo People’s Convention (MPC) chief added. Lalhmangaiha Sailo then expressed his wish that the present Mizoram government may approach the central government and ask for constituting a boundary commission.
“One surprising thing in the political history of Mizoram is that when Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Government of India signed the Peace Accord on July 31, 1986, there was no mention of the boundary dispute between Assam and Mizoram. Whether the MNF did not think about it at all, or the MNF leaders could not convince the Indian Government leaders on the matter, no one knows. If there is any one who can give the answer to this question, it would clear the confusion,” MPC president Lalhmangaiha Sailo pointed out.
Mentioning that safety of the land, safety of the community, safety of the religion are the three foundations of his party, the MPC president said, Mizoram needs these three things more than ever before.
It can be noted here that Manipur and Nagaland border dispute at Jessami in Ukhrul district is yet to be solved. Clashes of villagers from both the sides have been happening from time to time. The latest of violent incident in the Nagaland-Manipur border occurred as recent as a month ago.
The Nagaland-Assam border dispute at Merapani area has been a cause for worry. Burning of houses and even killings have been occurring occasionally with no solution in sight.
Meghalaya-Assam border dispute at Langpih is the subject of a long-running dispute between the Meghalaya and Assam state governments.
The British annexed the village to Assam’s Kamrup district, but then after Independence (after 1947), it was assigned to Meghalaya state. The Meghalaya government claims that Assam’s 1951 demarcation shows the area as part of a district in what would later become Meghalaya state. However, in 1972, Assam’s new demarcation showed the area as part of its own Mikir Hills district, the present Karbi Anglong district.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/border-dispute-in-ne/
