Kuki, Zo bodies oppose border fencing
Source: Chronicle News Service
CCpur, February 01 2024:
While calling upon the agencies involved in the Indo-Myanmar border fencing project to halt work, Kuki Chiefs' Association, Tengnoupal has cautioned the government that any arbitrary and coercive efforts to persist with the project will incite public unrest, posing unprecedented threat to regional tranquillity and stability, reiterated its appeal "for reconsideration of these actions to preserve the peace and harmony in the region" .
Expressing dismay over 'blatant' disregard of its sincere appeal against construction of the border fencing, the Association, in a release on Thursday, stated, "In the face of vehement public opposition, this brazen action signifies a stark betrayal of democratic values, as it silences the collective voice of the people, undermining the very essence of democratic principles".
It further stated the Association, having clearly outlined the reasons for opposing the project, will be steadfast in its opposition to the construction of border fencing, which is threatening the cultural and traditional rights of Kukis residing on both sides of the border.
United Zou Organisation, General Headquarters (UZO-GHQ) also opposed the government's plan to fence the Indo-Myanmar border without taking into account the socio-historical implications and the existence of the Zou/Zo people, while further condemning the central government's decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) .
A press release jointly issued by UZO president Thangzamang and secretary Chinkhenpau stated "The Zou/Zo are trans-border communities who have long lived in the former Manipur-Chin (now Indo-Myanmar) boundary regions" .
It further asserted that without their knowledge or approval, the British colonial overlords segmented their inhabited regions and gave them to Manipur and Chin Hills, in the late 19th century.
It went on to say the British referred to the Zou/Zo inhabited regions, which were located on Manipur's southern border, as the "neutral zone", "no man's land", or "crossed-hatched area", adding that for a very long time, there has been no clear boundary between Manipur and Myanmar.
According to colonial records, there were around 19 Zou/Zo (or Yo) villages with 630 households, living in the present-day border regions between India and Myanmar.
These villages were responsible for paying taxes to the British administration of the Northern Chin Hills until September, 1892 .
However, 16 of these 19 Zou/ Zo villages were "awarded to Manipur" in 1894 when the boundary between Manipur and Chin was drawn.
Carey and Tuck listed the names of the 16 villages in The Chin Hills (1896:cxx) .
The statement further said that following this, more boundary demarcations were carried out, completing the Zou/Zo people's final partition into India and Myanmar, and further maintained that the Zou/Zo population in India and Myanmar are one and the same, sharing the same origin, speaking the same dialect, and upholding the same customs and traditions.
"The FMR between India and Myanmar facilitates socio-cultural and economic exchanges, allowing individuals on both sides of the border to regularly interact beyond this artificially drawn border, " it pointed out.
Thus, UZO considers it a wanton infringement of indigenous people's rights and an attempt to stop the same people from having individual and socio-cultural exchanges, the statement maintained.
As such, it implored the central government to use caution, resist the allurement of some majoritarian propaganda aimed at the Kuki-Zo minority communities, and reverse its decision to unilaterally abolish the FMR and erect a border fence in the middle of the Zou/ Zo ancestral territory, while wondering whether the central government has abandoned its vision of Act East Policy.
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