THE LAHE DECLARATION: Will oppose any attempt to control free movement of Nagas

February 4, 2024 21 Views No Comment

LAHE, FEBRUARY 4 (MExN):Against the backdrop of the announcement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and fence the Indo-Myanmar border, the Naga Students’ Organization (NSO) convened an emergency assembly on February 2 at Naga Cultural Morung, Lahe Town, Sagaing Region, Myanmar.

According to a press communiqué received from NSO, representatives from the Naga tribal hohos and student bodies across Myanmar occupied Naga land came together to deliberate on the pressing issues surrounding the withdrawal of the FMR and the proposed construction of fencing.

“We recognize the resource politics of enclosure and, in response; we discern and defy the covert Akhand Bharat agenda. This agenda, marked by the divisive tactic of creating borders and manipulating civil society, emerges as India’s new frontier of war. We stand united, determined to resist any attempts at territorial encroachment or manipulation,” the NSO’s press statement read.

The Assembly also adopted a series of resolutions. It resolved to “vehemently oppose and protest against any unilateral move by the Governments of India or Myanmar to enclose the Naga homeland without our explicit consent” and to “dismantle any fencing erected within the Naga homeland by any government.”

It resolved to collectively commit to preserve the openness of the Naga homeland, resisting external impositions on our territorial integrity. It also declared that Naga people shall enjoy unrestricted access to their farmlands, fields, Naga villages, and towns within the Naga homeland.

It reaffirmed that Naga citizens shall not be subjected to passport or visa requirements within their own sovereign territory.
It reminded the Government of India to prioritize the significance of maintaining peace and harmony within the Naga Homeland while emphasizing the integral role of Naga homeland as the keystone of India’s Act East Policy, urging authorities to consider the delicate balance crucial for regional stability.

“This declaration encapsulates our collective will and determination, reflecting our unwavering commitment to the promotion of our cultural identity, territorial integrity, and the pursuit of peace within our Naga homeland,” the NSO stated.

“Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, the proposed withdrawal of the FMR and the ill-conceived plan of border fencing raise a poignant question – is this the hallmark of New India’s Ram Rajya?”the NSO also questioned.

We, the Nagas, have never been subjugated by conquest or annexation, and these actions betray the very essence of Nagaland’s historical resistance and autonomy, it went on to state.

The NSO also observed that instead of capitalizing on the unprecedented opportunity presented by the Myanmar crisis, where democracy struggles against a merciless junta, India seems to have lost the plot, yet again.

This suppression of our people’s rights not only jeopardizes the prospects for regional stability but also contradicts the ideals of the world’s largest democracy. India should be facilitating democracy and human rights rather than contributing to oppressive measures, it added.

Meanwhile, the NSO has strongly condemned the statements made by Imkong L Imchen andTemjen Imna Along regarding the FMR. “The integrity of these individuals are questioned, and clarification is sought on whether they have compromised Naga rights to curry favor with the BJP government, potentially marking them as traitors in the annals of Naga history,” it stated.