ANSAM submits memo to UN
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati, June 20 2025: The All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has written to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Secretary-General of the Unrepresented Nations & People's Organization seeking their intervention to immediately halt the ongoing construction of border fencing along the 'artificial' Indo-Myanmar border in the Naga 'ancestral' homeland and to reinstate the Free Movement Regime (FMR).

In the memorandum, ANSAM stated that the re-introduction of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) in 2018 was a welcome step that alleviated hardships and improved livelihoods for border residents and that they expected its coverage to expand.

However, the Government of India's decision to scrap the FMR and construct border fencing, citing illegal immigrants and insurgency, has shocked and dismayed the Naga people.

This move has caused immense disruption and an existential crisis, and will likely have longterm negative consequences for India, it said.

ANSAM described the scrapping of the FMR and border fencing as a disruption to the peaceful coexistence of communities along the Indo-Myanmar border.

The student body also noted that border fencing can harm wildlife by disrupting migrations, fragmenting population, and causing direct mortality to large animals, in addition to its impact on people.

It also said that scrapping of FMR and construction of border fencing is a total misconception and politically illogical.

ANSAM further stated that the Government may find other mechanisms to check the influx of illegal immigrants by enforcing other mechanisms like National Registration of Citizenship (NRC) .

Influx of immigrants and smuggling of drugs are handiwork of security forces especially Assam Rifles in collusion with a certain community, it claimed.

ANSAM further said that FMR, which aims to facilitate local border trade, improve access to education and healthcare for denizens of the border and strengthen diplomatic ties, should be reinstated by extending the coverage to 40 Km.

A similar memorandum was also submitted to the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Union External Affairs Minister to halt the border fencing and reinstate FMR.

Federating units of ANSAM including the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), Senapati District Students Association (SDSA) and it's federating units, Joint Tribe Students Association (JTSA) & it's federating units, and Naga Students Union, Chandel (NSUC) & it's federating units have also submitted similar memorandum to the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and the Governor.

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