In an interview with the Myanmar News Agency, U Chan Aye, Director of the Consular and Legal Affairs Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expounded his views on the Myanmar-India border dispute.The Daily Eleven a local newspaper recently reported that Myanmar was losing some pieces of its territory in the Kabaw valley following the eruption of border disputes.When asked about the issue, U Chan Aye said that Myanmar and India signed an agreement to demarcate the border on 18 March 1967, with demarcation being carried out from 1968 to 1972.Nine areas were left in the Kabaw valley as some disagreement broke out, he said adding that co – ordination through diplomatic channels is still going on and pledging that the government will spare no effort to safeguard its national territory.Regarding the construction of building on Myanmar land and the removal of old boundary pillars, he said it is necessary for both sides not to trespass into each other’s territory.According to the director, Indian courts are taking steps to remove invaded villages, some of which have been removed.Speaking of the integration of over 3,000 acres of land on the Myanmar-India border into the international territory, he said it is up to India to allow its own land to be designated as the international boundary, but they have no right to be generous with the disputed territory.The news report of giving up the land as the international boundary appeared in the 4 July issue of the Myanma Alinn, a state-run newspaper, which he said was a translated version of a news report written outside the country and that it caused misunderstanding for readers because of lack of proper reference to the original source.Myanmar will not accept the inclusion of the unsettled territory in the international boundary, he said.
IMAGE SOURCE; e-pao.net
