Kuki Inpi Chandel Strongly Opposes Proposed India-Myanmar Territorial Exchange in Chandel District, Says Land is Identity

Chandel: The Kuki Inpi Chandel (KICdl), affiliated to Kuki Inpi Manipur, has strongly objected to any proposal of territorial exchange along the India-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Chandel District, particularly between Boundary Pillars 65 and 68.

In a press release issued on August 6, 2026 (Ref. No. KICdl/PR/12/08-26) by General Secretary Shokhogin Mate, the apex Kuki civil body said it expresses deep concern and strong opposition to the reported proposal of “territorial exchange” or land swap.

The objection comes with reference to a press statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dated August 4, 2026, and reports regarding ongoing discussions between India and Myanmar to resolve the undemarcated stretch of the border in Chandel.

According to the release, the undemarcated 2.8 km stretch between BP 65 and 68 has been home to Kuki villages for generations, and reports of exchange of approximately 1.4 square miles of territory have caused panic among border villagers.

Kuki Inpi Chandel placed 5 key points:

1. Land is our Identity and Heritage: The border villages in Chandel District, particularly in the Chakpikarong area bordering Myanmar’s Kabaw Valley, are ancestral lands of the Kuki people. Any decision regarding demarcation or territorial exchange without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous communities residing there is unacceptable.
2. Lack of Consultation: KICdl said it is dismayed that such sensitive discussions concerning ancestral land and livelihood are being held without consulting the apex Kuki civil bodies, village chiefs, and the people of Chandel District. Border demarcation is not merely a technical exercise, it directly impacts homes, farms, sacred sites, and the future of thousands of families.
3. Against Territorial Exchange: KICdl categorically rejects any proposal for “exchange of approximately 1.4 square miles of territory” as reported. The release stated, “Our land is not a commodity for bargaining between two governments. The undemarcated stretch has been home to our people for generations, and any alteration will displace families, divide communities, and threaten our cultural survival.”
4. Demand for Transparency and Inclusion: The body urged the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to immediately halt any unilateral process and to institute a transparent, inclusive consultation mechanism with KICdl, other Kuki CSOs, and all stakeholders in Chandel before any decision on border demarcation is finalized.
5. Appeal for Protection of Indigenous Rights: In line with the Indian Constitution and international norms on indigenous rights, KICdl appealed to the MEA and concerned authorities to ensure that the rights, history, and sentiments of the border communities are fully protected during the ongoing bilateral discussions.

KICdl said it stands firmly with the people of the border villages and will not remain silent while decisions affecting land, identity, and future are made over their heads.

“We call upon all Kuki people and concerned citizens to stay united and vigilant on this matter,” the statement added.

Background: What is the India-Myanmar Border Exchange Plan?

The India-Myanmar border is 1,643 km long, and large parts in Manipur are still undemarcated. For decades, Boundary Pillars in Chandel district, especially around Moreh and Chakpikarong sector, have been missing or disputed.

In June 2026, the Kuki Chiefs’ Association (KCA), Khengjoi Block, had also opposed the proposed realignment of Boundary Pillars 65, 66 and 67 under the Centre’s border fencing project, warning that homes and farmlands could fall outside the fence. The KCA said the alignment based on the MEA’s 2017 proposal ignores ground realities. cd4b

Earlier, in 2013, Manipur had urged the Centre to re-survey Chandel after allegations that border villages may be ceded during fencing work. The then Chief Minister had said “Without the knowledge of the state government, the Centre cannot cede state territory to Myanmar.”

The Centre has accelerated fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border to check insurgency, arms and drug smuggling, and to regulate cross-border movement. On July 8, 2026, at the 23rd National Level Meeting, India and Myanmar reaffirmed to maintain peace and security along the border.

However, border communities in Chandel fear that any land swap or shifting of pillars will divide villages that have existed for centuries in the Kabaw Valley foothills.