Khiamniungan people have supported the Khiamniungan Tribal Council in condemning the proposed fence at the Indo-Myanmar border while expressing sadness and disappointment towards the leaders of the state who have supported the scrapping of Free Movement Regime (FMR). With 80 percent of Khiamniungan brethren residing in Myanmar while only 20 percent in India, citizens fear that these actions of the government will adversely affect their relationship and tear them apart in every aspect of their lives.
Speaking to Nagaland Tribune, residents in the remotest areas, who are dependent on agriculture, shared their frustrations that the International Trade Centre has not been able to elevate the economy of the Indian citizens and opined that a fence will result in collapse of the economy.
A person belonging to the Khiamniungan tribe, who preferred to be unnamed, expressed that from the time of the British rule, the Khiamniungan brothers and sisters lived as one and that even after the British divided them geographically, they have continued to do so without the concerns. “We lived sharing pains and sorrows to one another as kin and we lived as one family”, he said. He further appealed for all to stand strong against the removal of FMR.
Taking the example of Longwa Village in Mon where the Chief Angh’s house is divided because of the border, another person objected the FMR. He said that Khiamniungans have brothers and sisters in both India and Myanmar. “Putting up the fences will compel us to make a Visa to even meet our own brothers and sisters either be it in India or in Burma which will be a pain inside our bones,” the citizen sadly expressed.
“Let there be no borders or boundaries between brothers and sisters!” a citizen remarked.
“All the right thinking citizens of Khiamniungan too should rise against this fencing and the decision to eliminate FMR of our families. Try not to divide our families”, an Indian citizen appealed.
Another Khiamniungan urged a re-evaluation of the arbitrary borders dividing the Nagas, stating that the lack of consent in the boundary and the FMR issue have impacted lives in both countries. Stating that their interdependence extends across the imaginary line impacting daily lives, he said that the Khiamniungan people have stood in solidarity. Further, he said that the Government of India should acknowledge its failure to provide adequate infrastructure and human resource development in the region as their economies are intertwined and collaboration is essential for their daily survival.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
The Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC) on Saturday strongly contended the announcement made by Union Minister Amit Shah for scrapping the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and fencing construction along the Indo-Myanmar Border in North East India.
KTC stated that the “arbitrary” line stretching from BP139 Thongsonyu-to-BP146 ITC (DAN), Pangsha, dividing the two countries was neither consented nor accepted in either way by the people of Khiamniungan. “While the 2 countries of India & Myanmar were living in our Khiamniungan land the oneness peaceful co-existence and mutual respect of our social, cultural ties and brotherhood for generations should not be jeopardized by the restriction of free movement and fencing construction,” KTC stated in its press release.
The Council also said that despite the “artificial Indo-Myanmar border”, the Khiamniungan have never lived as a divided tribe but have since time immemorial lived under one Flag, Motto and Emblem.
KTC urged the Government of India not to impose such decisions because of what is happening in Manipur, asserting that the Khiamniungan tribe is a peace loving tribe living in both sides of the country, safeguarding the nation from any anti-elements. It also said that the removal of FMR and building a fence on the pretence for controlling smuggling of illegal substances, etc is unjustifiable.
The Council informed that there are 46 Khiamniungan villages in Nagaland and 182 villages in Myanmar and mentioned that some people own lands in both countries. If the government goes ahead with its decision, daily activities and livelihood will be hugely impacted and the sentiments of the people terribly hurt.
Instead of dividing them further, the Khiamniungan Tribal Council strongly appealed the Government of India and Government of Nagaland to expedite the infrastructure and developmental programmes at the designated ITC DAN, Pangsha and realizing on the Act East Policy for bringing the people from both countries for peace and development. It also stressed for the need to strengthening economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationship towards South East Asian countries.
KTC further cautioned that if the Central Government jeopardize the oneness of the Khiamniungan people, it will be compelled to “counter”.
