Bangladesh border forces on alert as Burma builds fence

by Salai Pi Pi
Thursday, 08 October 2009 22:25

New Delhi (Mizzima) – Bangladesh authorities have alerted its border security force to monitor movement of Burmese soldiers, who are gearing up again along the border to construct border fencing, sources in the border said.

The Burmese Army, after stopping activities on border fencing during the monsoon, on Oct 2 resumed erecting pillars along the Naf River, which marks the border between the two countries, the source, who requested anonymity, said.

“With the fresh start to border fencing about 400 military personnel from three battalions were brought back to the border,” the source said.

In response, Bangladesh Rifles reinforced its border guard forces and issued an alert in the area close to the construction site, a Bangladesh military website said.

A Bangladesh Home Ministry official on Thursday told Mizzima that the Bangladesh government has noticed such activity along Naf River by Burmese soldiers but refused to comment on what Bangladesh plans to do.

“So far there is no activity from Bangladesh except ordering its troops along the border to monitor the situation,” the source added.

Despite Bangladesh’s protesting against the construction of border fences too close to the zero line, Burmese soldiers are continuing with erecting pillars, the source said.

The Burmese Army began its border fencing in early 2009 and has already erected concrete pillars of about 70 km of the 120 km along Naf River.

Bangladesh had reportedly sent a note to the Burmese regime in Naypyidaw protesting against the construction of the pillars within 50 meters from the international border.

“Actually, the border fence can be built at a distance of 150 yards from the zero line on the border,” the official at the Bangladeshi Ministry of Home Affairs told Mizzima.

The official said, if the construction of the fence is completed, “Another concern for Bangladesh government is, it would not be able to deport Rohingya refugees to Myanmar [Burma].”

Tin Soe, Assistance Editor of Cox’s Bazaar based Kaladan Press Network said he fears that both countries might use landmines to protect the fence once construction is over, which could be fatal for villagers living along the border.

“I am worried that both countries might lay land mines along the border fence,” Tin Soe said, “it will be risky for the villagers residing nearby, when they go to cut wood and graze cattle.”

Meanwhile, the source in the border said, the Burmese Army had instructed villagers (about 80 households) in Taungpyo village in Maungdaw district of Arakan state in western Burma, to shift as their village falls along the border fence line.

“The villagers are in trouble for they don’t know where to move,” the source said.