NVCFM missive to Shah opposes FMR, fencing
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, September 23 2024: Naga Village Chief Federation Manipur (NVCFM) submitted a memorandum to Union home minister Amit Shah on the scrapping of Free Movement Regime (FMR) and fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur.

The memorandum submitted through Senapati DC Nimmi Azingwungshi on Monday said that NVCFM strongly opposed ending the FMR regime in Manipur sector and fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur.

It said that Naga villages have existed for centuries along the India-Myanmar border belt without any detriment to both India and Myanmar.

Occupation of these territories by Naga tribes predates the treaty of Yandaboo, 1826, signed between the Burmese and British-India.

The present International boundary between Myanmar and India in Naga areas in Manipur is the creation of British colonialism, which did not consider the interests of the primary stakeholders (Nagas).

According to the NVCFM memorandum, the Government of India (GOI) directly infringed on the rights of Naga chiefs in performing their mandated role as custodian of the village land, customs, tradition and law and order.

Naga being indigenous peoples and having lived since time immemorial have so much attachment to land and native villages and hardly have any history of migration like Kuki.

Cross border activities are only either family visits or trade relationships, it said.

While insisting that Naga community demonstrated steadfast love for peace in the ongoing Meetei-Kuki ethnic conflict by maintaining neutrality since May 3 2023, the memorandum said that indiscriminate manner of the Union government on FMR and border fencing at the request of state government at this juncture was motivated and driven by the interests of one community.

Government's revised policy has caused great inconveniences to Naga villages in the border areas and the revised policy is unacceptable to the Naga people, NVCFM stated.

The FMR was established in 2018 as part of the India's Act East policy by the Narendra Modi government and this regime enables Nagas residing along the international border to engage in trade, improve their access to education and healthcare, and play a crucial part in strengthening diplomatic ties between India and Myanmar.

However, the abrupt suspension of FMR has negative impact on the small gain already made, the memorandum said adding that border fencing has compounded anxiety and fear of Naga villagers settling along the international border.

The memorandum signed by different Naga bodies urged Union home minister Amit Shah to reinstate FMR in Naga areas to restore traditional boundaries of the Naga villages.

Comment