Urges all stakeholders to unitedly oppose GoI’s ‘concerning policy’
Dimapur, March 2 (MExN): The NSCN/GPRN (Khango) has stated that the decision of the Government of India (GoI) to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the ongoing construction of fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border have raised significant concerns among the Naga community.
To this end, a unanimous resolution was passed by the NSCN/GPRN during its National Tatar Hoho held on January 15-16 at Thamsao Council headquarters, expressing strong opposition to the GoI’s decision on FMR and border fencing, stated a press release from NSCN/GPRN (Khango).
In this connection, it urged the GoI to reaffirm its commitment to the FMR established in 2018 as an integral component of the ‘Act East Policy’.
This policy framework should also encompass a deep recognition of the rights and cultural heritage of the Naga tribes, emphasising the importance of maintaining a harmonious relationship between India and Myanmar, it noted.
The NSCN/GPRN (Khango) also pointed out that the longstanding shared history of colonialism between the two nations necessitates a collaborative approach that respects and acknowledges the fundamental rights of the Naga people residing on both sides of the border.
This collaborative effort is essential for fostering regional peace and stability, it asserted.
Giving a historical context, it also asserted that border demarcation in Naga territory, such as the ‘Treaty of Yandabo’ in 1826 and subsequent delineations until 1972, was conducted without the “consent or input of the ancestral landowners.”
Accordingly, the NSCN/GPRN (Khango) “firmly” asserted that it cannot accept the decision made by the GoI to revoke the FMR or to collaborate with the Myanmar Government on border matters that directly “affects the historical rights and well-being of the Naga community.”
The Nagas possess unique cultural traditions, customary practices, and historical rights as an indigenous community, which must be respected at all costs, it added.
It further stated that the GoI must be held fully accountable for any adverse consequences that arise from the construction of fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border, particularly if it goes forward without a thorough understanding of the socio-cultural and political dynamics and realities on the ground.
“Any development initiatives that fail to align with the aspirations and sentiments of the Naga people will be perceived as a significant threat to our cultural identity,” it maintained.
These actions will be met with “serious resistance from our Government,” the NSCN/GPRN (Khango) cautioned.
It also reminded the legislators of Nagaland about the critical resolution passed by the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly in 2024 concerning the issue.
It also appealed to all civil society organisations (CSOs), intellectuals, and the Naga populace to unite and condemn the GoI’s concerning policy of border fencing, which it asserted “undermines the rights of the Naga people.”
Meanwhile, the Naga National Political Alliance (NNPA), spearheaded by NSCN/GPRN (Khango), reiterated its ‘message’ to the GoI to refrain from actions that would obstruct the ongoing Naga political talks.
“Work towards a resolution that respects the social and political rights of the Naga people at this crucial juncture, as we collectively strive for a final and just solution to our longstanding aspiration of the Nagas,” it added.
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