TKS urges PM, HM, Governor to halt fencing, reinstate FMR
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, June 20 2025: Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to immediately halt the ongoing construction of border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar Border (IBM) and to reinstate the Free Movement Regime (FMR) .

In this regard, TKS vice president Omry Ningshen told The People's Chronicle that the appeal was made through separate memorandums submitted to PM Modi, HM Shah and Governor Bhalla through Ukhrul DC Ashish Das on Friday morning.

"We submitted the memorandum as part of a collective effort under the aegis of ANSAM which all of its federating units have done simultaneously," he said.

The memo highlighted that the FMR, which had allowed tribal communities to travel 16 kilometres across the border without a visa since 2018, significantly improved livelihoods.

However, the government's decision to scrap this regime and proceed with border fencing has caused considerable disruption and crisis for the local population, particularly the Naga people.

It also pointed out the historical injustice faced by the Naga community due to the arbitrary demarcation of their homeland in the 1950s, which divided their territory without local consent.

Noting that the division has led to significant hardships, including families unable to access ancestral lands due to the newly imposed border, TKS argued that the government's actions violate human rights and exacerbate existing tensions in the border region.

At the same time, the memo raised concerns about the environmental impacts of border fencing, which could disrupt local wildlife migrations and threaten biodiversity.

Criticising the government's justification for scrapping the FMR on the grounds of combating illegal immigration and drug trafficking, it asserted that there is insufficient evidence of such issues in Naga areas.

Citing India's commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the memo urged the government to respect the rights of communities living along the international borders.

Reinstatement of the FMR is essential for maintaining the cultural and social ties that have existed for generations, it said.

In response to the government's actions, the TKS had joined ongoing protests, including sit-ins and rallies, to voice their opposition and carried out a 48-hour picketing event across Naga district headquarters, reiterating their demand for the government to respect their rights and address their concerns.

The memo then appealed for an urgent cessation of border fencing construction and the reinstatement of the FMR, advocating for a dialogue to resolve longstanding issues based on mutual respect and historical recognition.

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