The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), on Tuesday, said that removing the Free Movement Regime (FMR) from the Indo-Myanmar border and building fences along it is an “affront” to the “rights and autonomy” of the Naga people and “a regressive step that will exacerbate conflicts in the North-East Frontier Region.”
Condemning the plans of the Government of India, the NSF said that “duplicity separation line” has been the root cause of conflicts and insurgencies in the North-East Frontier Region for over 80 years, the Federation said that “this cycle will persist until a just and equitable resolution is achieved.”
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The proposed fence raises “serious concerns about the historical context and the impact it will have on the Naga people,” NSF stated in its press release, adding that the GoI must acknowledge that lands and hills between the Chindwin River and the Saramati mountain range, presently on the Burma-side, are an integral part of the Naga heritage and belongs to the Nagas.
Highlighting that the Naga people on both sides of the Saramati mountain range have suffered the consequences of arbitrary divisions imposed by external forces, the Federation cautioned that the proposed fence will “disrupt our unity” and only “sow the seeds of discord and unrest.”
Read more: Your position and ours are same on Myanmar border fencing: Y Patton tells Mizoram CM
On the intentions of the government to abolish the Free Movement Regime, the NSF expressed concerns that such decision “will not only restrict the cultural and social exchange between communities but will also add a layer of tension to an already delicate situation.”
FMR allows nationals of both countries living with 16 kms from the border to freely travel up to 16 km inside the neighbour country without the requirement of visa.
Underling that the Indo-Myanmar border is a complex landscape with diverse communities and histories, the NSF urged the government at the Centre to reconsider its decision and “engage in a meaningful dialogue with the Naga community to find a solution that respects our historical rights and aspirations.”
Read more: Global Naga Forum appeals Indian Govt to uphold FMR
