CHAPTER-IV A CASE STUDY OF THE EASTERN SECTOR [McMOHAN LINE BORDER AREA] CHAPTER - IV A CASE STUDY OF THE EASTERN SECTOR [McMOHAN LINE BORDER AREA] 4 1 INTRODUCTION: As it is observed during political negotiations that China had refused to accept "McMohan Line" as a legal boundary line between India and China in the eastern sector as proposed by India to settle boundary dispute sector-wise. On the contrary, Chinese claimed about 94,700 square kilometers of Indian territory including the Kameng frontier division and three-fourth of the Lohit division of the eastern sector (Arunachal Pradesh) V An attempt is made here to study the McMohan Line border area into more details in terms of historical association of the area and its linkages. In this chapter an attempt is made to assess the claim and counter claim which has been made during "negotiations" by India and China, in the eastern sector, respectively. It is also assessed the rationality of these claims made by the contending parties. The complex nature of India's northern border cannot be understood unless it is studied with the "time" and "space dimensions" in relations to human habitations and political dominance of the powers in the disputed areas. Time dimension is the historical account of dominant powers in this region, where as space dimension is the geographical extent of ethnic groups and political control over particular border areas, which are dealt here in detail. 4 2 GEOGRAPHICAL EXTENT OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH: Although, a general geographical description of Arunachal Pradesh international border has been done in the second chapter of this thesis, a more detailed account about geographical extent of Arunachal Pradesh border (McMohan Line) has been carried out here, in this chapter. Arunachal Pradesh situated in the north-east of India is neariy 84,000 square, kilometers in area and has a long international border with China (1030 kms) and Myanamar (Burma) 440 kms). It stretches from the snow capped mountains in the north to the plains of the Brahmaputra valley in the south.^ The northern Himalaya belt stretches from the eastern frontier of Bhutan to where it joins the Patkoi Hills. This territory has international importance due to the western tri-junction PHOTOGRAP NO. An Altitude Area Convered By Dense Forest (Roin<3 - Debaniy Valley District) Research Scholar M.L.Sali Observinc^- Gooi-jraphical Realities Of The Eastern Sector During Field Trip. PHOTOGRAPH NO.2 Rocky Altitude Covered By Snow (Tawan<j : District Of Arunachal Pradesh! point where Bhutan, India and Tibet meet and the tri-junction of the east where Burma, Tibet and India co-terminate. From Bhutan the Himalayan border runs along the northern parts of Arunachal Pradesh, The total length of this eastern border of India is 1140 kms and it runs from the eastern limits of Bhutan to a point near the Talu pass at the tri-junction of India, China and Burma. The boundary has been established along the Himalayan crest of the northern watershed of the Brahmaputra except where the Lohit, Dihang, Subansiri and Nyamjang rivers break through that watershed. The orJy variance from the watershed principal is near Migytun and the two Tibetan pilgrim places of Tastokaro and Tsari Sarps. It is surrounded by Bhutan in the west and China (Tibet) in the south - east.^ The area consists of sub-mountain and mountain belts presenting a series of ranges, sloping to the plains of Assam and forming buttresses to the east-west Himalayan ranges which in turn form the buttresses to the Tibetan Plateau. This mountainous region which gradually slopes down from its northern crest forming a watershed with Tibet, to merge with the Brahmaputra valley in the south is about 100 miles wide. The Brahmaputra river valley which is 50 miles wide is considered the most fertile and productive area of India. The area presents a remarkable topographical variety; there are thick, subtropical undergrowth jungles near the foothills with hills fiirther north presenting every possible type of mountain scenery. About 15000 square, miles of the total area is estimated to be under forests. Arunachal Pradesh is widely known for lush green forests which occupy 62%of the total geographical area of the state. This region covers the dense forests, rocky and snow-covered regions at high altitudes."* (please see photographs no. 1 & 2). The Arunachal Pradesh-Tibet (India-China) border have almost a chain of mountain peaks, whose height is near about 2350-9700 metres high. In such mountain ranges there are very narrow passes. Such types of passes do not allow large scale movement. The passes indirectly affect the movement of the combat forces. The rest of the passes run over high peaks and can allow a passage of just 2 or 3 men at a time.^ The climate and seasonal climate of Arunachal Pradesh is different from other Indian states. This region receives the heaviest rainfall in India - the average rainfall being 3750 to 5000 mm. The pre-monsoon shower being towards the end of March, the monsoon properly lasts from May to the end of September. Winter rains are a regular feature of this region. Snowfall is'experienced in most of the region. The range of average minimum temperature is between 0° C and 2° C in the south and goes down below freezing point (-7 °C) in the north. The summer season which starts from early May is short and is moderated by frequent showers.^ The boundary line between Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet is called "McMohan Line". Arunachal Pradesh has four political Divisions for administration purpose, viz Kameng, Subansiri, Siang, Lohit and Tirap.^ A detail discussion of geographical extent in each political division is as follows. 4.2.1 Kameng Frontier Division:- In this sector the height of the mountain peaks shows a great variation ranging from 1829 to 6400 metres. The highest peak is Kangte (7090 metres) in the Tawang district. The Dhola-Thagla area is a cup-shaped, elevated, hollow surrounded by impressive mountain ranges or ridges on all sides. The Thagla ridge extends to the east of the Nyamjang Chu to embody the Bum La. The Thagla ridge is separated from another ridge in the south by the Namka Chu, a small rivulet about 16 miles long. The Nyamjang Chu is the chief river of the sector. The frontier from Chutangmo is near about 2 miles away in the north. About 1000 yards to the south of the Indo-Tibetan (China) boundary there is a footpath on the right bank of the Nyamjang Chu which climbs to the Khinzemane grazing ground.^ Starting from foothills the road goes up to nearly 9500 ft. high via Bompula and Chaku to a place named Eagle's Nest, with thick jungles, steep climbs and extremely difficuh terrain. Then the road slides down slightly to climb up to cross the next range through Bomdi La. Bomdi La is approximately 100 kms from foothills at a height of about 9500 ft. From Bomdi La the ground slopes down towards Dirang Dzong which is at a height of about 5500 ft. Dirang Dzong is an important village on the route where the tracts from North Lungthang- Sangti meet. The Dirang river flows by the side of Dirang Dzong.^ Further area is covered with thick jungles which start disappearing as the climb towards Senge- Sela starts, Sela at a height of about 14000 ft. and the name of the pass. The climate of this sector excepting the Nyamjang valley is damp and cool in summer and freezing cold in winter. The sector receives snowfall in winter though there is no snow below 6000 ft. ^^ 4.2.2. Subansiri Frontier Division:-Like Siang Subansiri Frontier Division is named after the river which drains its eastern and northern parts. In the east and the west, the Great Himalayan Range separates it from Siang and Kameng. In the south there is no range, a narrow belt of Tarai merges into the northern plains of Assam. The frontier area adjacent to Tsari which is called as a Longju. The prominent villages of the Longju sector are Migyitung (in Tibet), Tamadan, Longju Roi and Maja. On account of its accessibility towards the international border no landing ground has been built in the area though Maja village has a dropping zone. The other area of importance is the Subansiri valley. The villages in this valley are Lung(in Tibet), Asaflia, Taksing, Lengbeng and Limeking (in India). Longju is in the center of the region and can be reached from Limeking, Daporijo and Machuka by footpaths passing through dense forests. At some places there are ladder climbs, and indigenous suspension bridges make the journey very difficult. The Subansiri rises in Tibet and enters India at an altitude of 9000 ft. This Subansiri has formed a narrow and deep valley between two mountains. The sparse population of the small villages comprises the handsome Hill Miris. Like the Tagins they also live on forest produce. In some a little cultivation is also done. ^ ^ 4.2.3 Siang Frontier Division:- Siang Frontier Division is the biggest unit of the Administration of Arunachal Pradesh. The well known Siang river flows through it. It is bounded in the north by the Great Himalayan Range and by two mountainous barriers in the east and west. The southern part is a plain. The important towns and villages in this sector are Mechuka, Manigona, Tadadege, Tuting and Gelling. The Great Himalayan Ranges separate the area from Tibet. The important passes in this sector are Dom La, Tunga La, Shoka La, Lamdo La and Lusha La. And the "main rivers of the region are the Brahmaputra and the Syom.