Manipur rivals unite against border land swap with Myanmar

New Delhi: More than three years after ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities plunged Manipur into a bitter conflict, an unlikely point of convergence has emerged: both sides are now opposed to any possible swapping of land with Myanmar.

The issue concerns a reported proposal to exchange around 3.5 sq km of territory in Manipur's Chandel district along the India-Myanmar border. While the Manipur Valley's civil society body, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), last month came out strongly against any move to cede even a small portion of Manipur's territory to Myanmar, Kuki villagers in the border villages of Khengjang and Molcham in Chandel district took their opposition to the streets on August 11, protesting against any possible realignment of the existing boundary.

"Kuki Inpi Chandel expresses deep concern and strong opposition to any such proposal of 'territorial exchange' or land swap in the area," said a statement shared with ET and signed by the Kuki civil society body's general secretary Shokhogin Mate. The statement referred specifically to reports of negotiations between India and Myanmar concerning the stretch between boundary pillars 65 and 68 in Chandel district.


At a press conference in New Delhi earlier this month, a spokesman for the ministry of external affairs (MEA) acknowledged that there are certain stretches of the India-Myanmar border "which are yet to be settled", also adding that discussions on those sectors are ongoing.

The issue gained attention last month after The Diplomat, citing a government document, reported that about "1.4 square miles" of territory had been "proposed to be exchanged with Myanmar following a proposal from the foreign secretary".

"The matter, it seems, is under discussion; nothing is finalised as yet. So, we must not jump the gun," Lt Gen L Nishikanta Singh (retired) said.