Don't fence border : ANSAM to Governor
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 26 2025: Denouncing border fencing in Naga areas, the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has submitted a memorandum to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.

A delegation of the student body, led by its president Th Angteshang Maring called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan Imphal and submitted the memorandum today.

Briefing media persons at Manipur Press Club after the meeting, Th Angteshang Maring said the Governor was apprised of the grievances Naga people are facing as a result of border fencing in Naga inhabited areas of the Indo-Myanmar border, and urged not to scrap Free Movement Regime (FMR) .

Don't fence border : ANSAM to Governor

The fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border has affected the lives and movement of Naga people on both sides of the border, he said.

The fencing of the border would divide the Nagas and deny them of their rights.

It would affect their culture and association as one community, he added.

The memorandum submitted to the Governor was not directed against any community.

It sought to address only the plights of the Nagas, Th Angteshang said.

The ANSAM president further asserted that the Government of India didn't take the consent of the Nagas when it decided to fence the border and restrict movement of the people across the border.

Fencing of the border and scrapping FMR are not the only measures to stop illegal immigrants, he asserted.

If the Central Government is sincere, it may update the National Register of Citizens and take up other practical measures, he added.

If the Government thinks fencing the border would end the conflict that started on May 3, 2023, then it has taken the wrong step, said Angteshang.

Naga CSOs have repeatedly urged the Government to stop border fencing.

This doesn't mean Nagas are against the Government but if the Government continues with its decision, the Naga people will not remain silent, he said.

Angteshang said the Governor heard their grievances seriously and gave his assurance to inform the Central Government about the aspirations of the Naga people.

Responding to a query, he said, "ANSAM supports every effort being taken up by the Government to bring normalcy and peace in Manipur, but we will never accept any action that would hurt the sentiments of the Naga people" .

During the meeting with the Governor today, Angteshang said, ANSAM submitted another memorandum urging the Governor to improve the functioning of the educational and medical institutes in Naga inhabited areas.

The ANSAM team highlighted lack of infrastructure and shortage of staff in educational and medical institutions.

Many schools and colleges are lacking the infrastructure, and have no adequate teaching and non-teaching staff.

District Hospitals and health centres too are lacking infrastructure and facing shortage of doctors, nurses and technical staff, he said.

Through the memorandum, ANSAM also urged the Centre to upgrade District hospitals into Medical Colleges, he added.

ANSAM also sought the Governor's attention to issues related to recruitment for jobs, he said.