Statement by Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, head of the SAC Information Team

I will respond today to the questions raised by the media related to the border areas of India and Myanmar, and the matter related to Manipur and Kabaw Valley, and also the matter which the Mizoram MPs talked about.

Mizoram MP K. Vanlalvena made the visit to northwestern Myanmar regions bordering India, the Hindu News Agency reported on its news website.

K. Vanalvena visited Myanmar while moving through border areas from Mizoram, it said.

This visit was communicated to the governor of Mizoram and the border guard forces, The Hindu News Agency reported.

Later, we also found out that he did meet with CNF, CNA and Chin PDF. At a meeting of the Upper House of India, an MP of Manipur at the meeting said Tamu-Kabaw Valley may very likely be the territory of India according to the history regarding the India-Myanmar border areas.

Furthermore, Mizoram Hluttaw on 10 March reported Prime Minister of Mizoram Lalduhoma on the foreign influx to Myanmar through Mizoram.

We also discovered that The Times of India said that almost 2,000 foreigners traveled to Aizawl between last June and December and were never spotted in the streets and their sole purpose was to cross into Myanmar to meddle in its internal affairs.

In these cases, what I would like to respond to media is that Myanmar and India are good friendly nations.

Since the effective implementation of the Act East Policy, Myanmar has been cooperating with India.

As mentioned above, there is no sign of the Myanmar government supporting groups against Myanmar on Indian territory, nor does it accept groups opposing Indian government on Myanmar territory.

Bilateral Mechanism for Border Security of two countries

This collaboration has already known many successful achievements for the Indian government.

Just like India, Myanmar keeps the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence as it is.

It stands as good friend.

Now for Myanmar-India border area, The Myanmar-India border is 1,010 miles (1,630 km) long. It is 1,626 kilometres.

Measured more than 907 miles, more than 1,460 in kilometres.

Most have already been measured.

We also finished measuring the Kabaw Valley.

There is MoU on Border Cooperation between Myanmar and India, which was signed on 8 May 2014 for the demarcation for the boundary with Myanmar and India. For example in Kabaw Valley, the India opposition party BJP in 2013 election camp spread campaign pledge for reclamation of Kabaw Valley area which includes Tamu-Kalay- Mingin townships.

The townspeople, however, resisted in Kalay and Mingin townships.

So, in other words, despite everything else I am telling you, Myanmar is always a good neighbour of India. There are some politicians in India who should not risk bilateral ties of the two nations for their political career.

They ought to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Myanmar will do what it needs to do, be it to be informed or say regarding this issue.

Thank you all.