Thousands of people gathered at ITC Dan on April 3  protesting against the border fencing at the Indo Myanmar border and scrapping of Free Movement Regime. The rally was jointly  organised by Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC) and Naga People’s Front (NPF). The entire district of Noklak’s private and government offices, schools and  business establishment remained closed to show solidarity with the rest of the Khiamniungan Nagas from both the countries of India and Myanmar.

The public expressed their deep opposition to the border fencing project, viewing it as a continuation of historical injustices that have divided their ancestral lands. Their concerns go beyond just physical separation—they fear the loss of cultural heritage, traditional cross-border ties, and livelihoods. The gathering highlighted that the border demarcation, initiated during the time of their forefathers without their knowledge or consent, resulted in the erection of 146 border pillars—effectively separating families and communities that had lived as one for generations. Special attention was drawn to the plight of the Khiamniungan Naga community, which consists of 182 villages in Myanmar and 48 in India.

Khiamniungan Tribal Council, President, Ngon, in his address to the gathering, said that the boundary was built without the consent of the tribal people to which the people strongly disagrees. The KTC President also informed that the memorandum regarding the petition to suspend the Indo-Myanmar border fencing has been submitted three times already this year since January.  He expressed his strong affirmation that the fight to protest the barrier will continue for generations.

MLA & Secretary General, NPF, Achumbemo Kikon, while highlighting the approach of the first Prime Minister of India whose policy he said caused suffering to the Nagas, appealed the present Prime Minister not to make the same mistake. Kikon said that the Government of India owes an apology to the Nagas, adding that the Nagas are conscious of their rights and the governmentof India must acknowledge their rights. Kikon lamented that the state government is an adoption of the policy of Nehru. The MLA also acknowledged the existence of indigenous people who were divided by an imaginary barrier.

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Meanwhile, MLA P.Longon declared that the rally is a historic gathering which is for the common cause. He strongly opposed the policy of the central government which has divided the Nagas by the border fencing. Highlighting the history of the division, Longon said that people were ignorant then.

“The participation is not a party campaign but to support the protest against Border fencing,” said President, NPF, Apong Pongener who asserted that the NPF party stands for Naga’s permanent peace.  Further, he extended the party’s full support for free Naga land.

Naga Students’ Organization, Myanmar and Nada YUYA, Lahe Myanmar, and other Naga  representatives from Myanmar in their solidarity speech shared their collective resistance against the border policies. It is not against India or Myanmar but the fencing, they said.

The event was chaired by Pusho P, General Secretary of the Khiamniungan Students’ Union (KSU). The invocation was led by Pastor H. Metsoi of Dsan Village Baptist Church, while the welcome address was delivered by Shri P. Shingnya, President of the Pangsha Public Organisation (PPO). A vote of thanks was extended by Mr Shangchiu, President of KSU, and the benediction was pronounced by Pastor Hemping of Dan Baptist Church, ITC.