Govt offices picketed in Naga areas
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, June 02 2025: Naga People's Organisation (NPO), Senapati and other Naga organisations extended support to the 48-hour picketing of government offices called by All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM), in all Naga-hill districts in Manipur on Monday and Tuesday.

In a release, NPO Information & Publicity secretary mentioned that the move is a collective stance against the scrapping of Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the forceful border fencing which threatens the integrity of Naga homeland, while expressing its solidarity with the aspirations and rightful concerns of the Naga people.

Govt offices picketed in Naga areas

Extending full support to ANSAM's call, Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) along with its federating units including Mao Students' Union (MSU), Maram Students' Union (MKS), Poumai Naga Students' Union (PNTM), Thangal Students' Union (TAJ) and Zeliangrong Students' Union, Senapati Zone (ZSU-SZ), locked up government offices operating in the district including the DC's office, DRDA, ADC and banks like SBI, UCO, Punjab National Bank, IDBI, CBI and BOI, on Monday.

SDSA, in their endorsement letter, stated that the Association strictly enforced office picketing in its jurisdiction as solidarity towards fellow Nagas' brethren settling across the imaginary international border.

It then appealed to all government departments in its jurisdiction to refrain from attending or operating their offices, with exception of flood relief/report or other related activities.

The picketing was taken up under the banners, "Nagas are one - No fencing in between", "Nagas are one - We will live together as one people", "Nagas and their lands are inseparable", "No fence between families", "Stop imposed Border Fencing constructions across Naga homeland", "Reinstate FMR, People's movement against scrapping of FMR & imposed Border Fencing constructions amidst Naga Homeland", "Do not further divide the Nagas", "Respect our rights & History, Indian leaders, walk the talks, Modiji, Keep your words" .

Meanwhile, addressing the media at Tamenglong DHQs, ANSAM president drew the attention of the United Nations, Unrepresented Nation Peoples' Organisation and self-determined countries of the world, stating that the Nagas - who have their own unique history, land, people and already recognised as unique by Government of India (GoI) - are facing various threats due to the sinister policy of the latter and underestimated in various ways.

He asserted that ANSAM in support of UNC, Naga Women Union, units of ANSAM and Tribe Hohos decided to picket government offices in the hill districts of Manipur in protest against the scrapping of FMR and the imposed border fencing construction in Naga Homeland.

The GoI's decision to further divide the Nagas is a direct challenge and infringes on their birth rights, the president mentioned.

"We cannot accept such divisive policies, contradicting the official agreements between the Naga Nation and GoI.

Thus, we urge GoI to respect the official agreements and the Framework Agreement by implementing the competencies in letter and spirit, and immediately revoke the scrapping of FMR in our ancestral land and stop the imposed border fencing construction in Naga Homeland," he said.

According to the ANSAM president, India being a democratic country should uphold the meaning of democracy and respect the legitimate rights of the Naga people.

"Nagas are one and will live together as one.

ANSAM will march forward and overcome someday in the name of Christ for Nagalim," the president said.

Naga student bodies of Chandel under the aegis of Naga Students' Union Chandel (NSUC) also picketed government offices in the district especially DC Office, SDO Office, ADC Office and SBI Chandel Branch on Monday.

The government offices shall remain closed till Tuesday evening, the student bodies asserted.