Kuki bodies stick to 'no border fencing' stand
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 04 2024: Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and Kuki Chiefs' Association (KCA) of Manipur have expressed deep resentment against the central government's persistent effort to construct border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur.

In a joint release, KIM and KCA denounced government's push for resumption of the border fencing by deploying central forces, despite opposition and earlier protests leading to halt in the construction.

Reiterating that the construction of the border fence will pose serious threat to cultural heritage and way of life of the indigenous Kuki people in Manipur, it stated that people across the Northeast region had high expectations when the Free Movement Regime was formalised in 2018 as a part of the Act East Policy by the BJP government.

As such, the abrupt decision to scrap the FMR by the same BJP government came as a shocker to all, the release said.

Keeping aside the national security concern of the central government the whole gamut seems an appeasement policy towards the Meetei community, it asserted, while adding that the central government is violating the fundamental rights of the indigenous communities living along the border belt.

Demanding immediate cessation of the border fence Work in the interest of safeguarding the rights and well-being of the indigenous people, it maintained that by prioritising national security over human rights, the government risks further alienating and marginalising the very people it is meant to protect.

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