Myanmar seals border, trade hit

MOREH-13-06-2011Indian border piller No.79 in Indo-Myanmar international border in Moreh a border town in Indias northeastern state of Manipur bordering Burmas Tamu town on Monday, June 13, 2011. The border piller No.78 has created sensation after both Indian and Myanmar officials found it missing during the construction of border fencing between the two countries. Many political parties called upon the Government of India to conduct a survey so that no land of the Manipur state could be lost while taking up fencing work along the international border. The fencing works along the Indo-Myanmar border has been taken up as a part of accelerating the efforts to check illegal drug trafficking and free militants movement in the north eastern region of the country bordering Myanmar. This is a part of various other measures taken up by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs government of India. Three northeastern states Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram has been identified as a transit point for illegal trafficking by the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and International Narcotic Control Bord (INCB). Drug flow through the boundary has fueled the rise of HIV/AIDS turning in to high-risk zone. Myanmar sharing its 1,463km border with northeastern states of India has always been linked with high instances of drug abuses and its opium and heroin production ranks second in the world. PHOTO: RITU_RAJ_KONWAR - CAPTION

The Myanmarese government on Tuesday sealed the international border, affecting bilateral trade. No Indian has been allowed to cross the border at international gate numbers I and II from 8 a.m.

There was a rally by Myanmarese at Namphalong and nearby areas on the Myanmar side on Tuesday morning. They shouted slogans demanding that India honour the international boundary.

With the sealing of the border, legalised border trade came to a halt. The traditional border trade was legalised in 1995. Foreign goods worth over Rs. 1 crore are brought every day to Manipur.

Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam Gangmei had asked the Assam Rifles, manning the Manipur-Myanmar border, to be vigilant.

Following complaints from political parties in Manipur, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had asked the Border Roads Organisation to suspend the construction work on border fence. India has been saying the border dispute will be resolved at the diplomatic level. However, there was no response from Yangon.