ANSAM petitions UN, UNPO
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, June 20 2025: All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) sought intervention of the United Nations (UN) and the Unrepresented Nations & People's Organisation (UNPO) on the ongoing border fencing along India-Myanmar border and reinstatement of the scrapped Free Movement Regime (FMR) .

In a memorandum submitted to UN secretary general and a copy of the same to the UNPO secretary general, ANSAM alerted the UN bodies on the ongoing border fencing and FMR scrapped by the Government of India and sought intervention of the UN leaders over the two impending issue of grave concern.

According to the ANSAM memorandum, the reintroduction of FMR, allowing tribal living along the border to travel up to 16 km on either side of India and Burma (now Myanmar) without visa during 2018, was a welcoming step that alleviated the hardships and enhanced the livelihood of the people residing along the borders.

People expected expansion of FMR coverage with the rise of India as one of the leading global power.

However, the Government of India took a regressive step and scrapped FMR along with starting construction of border fencing along the artificial Indo-Myanmar border under the illogical pretext of influx of illegal immigrants and insurgencies.

Such haphazard move of government caused immense disruption and existential crisis to people residing in the region, especially the Nagas, which will also cost India huge loss in the long run, ANSAM said.

Mentioning some points for consideration, the ANS-AM said a grave historical injustice was slapped to the Naga people by arbitrarily dividing the Naga homeland in the 1950s by India's then Prime Minister Jawaharal Nehru and the then Burmese Prime Minister U Nu.

Indisputably, the Nagas have been living in God's given land since time immemorial in their own way, having traditional system and customs, much before the birth of India as a nation in 1947 and Burma in 1948 respectively as a sovereign people without any external dominance.

Drawing of an imposed and imaginary international boundary in the middle of Naga homeland without the informed consent of the locals was the cruellest treatment.

Ironically, the imaginary line runs through the house of Longwa village chief, leaving the sleeping rooms in the Indian border and the kitchen area falling in Myanmar.

It is ideal on the part of India as leading democracy and emerging super power in the world to respect the inherent rights of the people, be it minority like the Nagas and withdraw forthwith from repeating such tyranny in the modern society.

While terming the scrapping of FMR and physical border fencing construction as disruption of peaceful co-existence, the memorandum recalled that Naga villagers have been living across the border since time immemorial and sharing all ties in terms of social, economic, cultural, religious and lands.

These bonds predate the colonial demarcation of boundaries and are integral to the identity, traditions and way of life.

As such, the abrupt abrogation of FMR and construction of physical border fencing along the imaginary Indo-Myan-mar border have adversely impacted and disrupted the natural flow of community and familial interdependent relationship.

In many areas, there are instances of a family holding land on both sides of the border resulting in denial of access to their own ancestral lands, the memorandum mentioned.

The memorandum also said that border fencing and scrapping of FMR will disrupt pristine biodiversity and migration of wildlife as the walls will block seasonal migration of large animals, reduce genetic and species diversity.

While terming that scrapping of FMR and border fencing in the pretext of drugs and illegal immigrants as an illogical move, the ANSAM said the haphazard move of the government was a total misconception, has no historical bearing and a short sighted approach in nature that would cause a huge ramification.

Further, the lop-sided narrative of the Government of India and the Government of Manipur for ending the FMR and construction border fencing/wall along the imaginary borders has displeased many frontier communities.

The Nagas are not convinced that ending FMR and border fencing will serve any purpose due to the fact that there is neither a case of smuggling of arms and drugs nor an influx of illegal immigrants in Naga areas on both sides.

The state and central governments may find other mechanism to curb the menace by enacting and enforcing stringent laws like National Registration of Citizenship (NRC).

In fact, the influx of immigrants and smuggling of drugs are the handiwork of security forces especially Assam Rifles in collusion with certain community, to which the MHA knows best, the ANSAM alleged, imploring the 'able leadership' to end the hide and seek game employed by MHA and roll back the policy of scrapping the FMR and construction of border fencing.

While respecting the sentiment of the Government of India, the ANSAM through the memorandum puts on record that the plea of the association is not an antithesis to the policy of India nor an an-ti-India campaign.

Because, respecting the historical and traditional boundary of Nagas in regard to India-Myanmar border will serve a fair dividend to both the Nagas and the Government of India in the long run as the Nagas embark on the relationship of peaceful co-existence with mutual respect.

Therefore, instead of symptomatic treatment over the chronic issues in the region, ANSAM urged the Government of India to sincerely engage on the negotiating table to resolve the protracted Indo-Naga political issue logically based on Framework Agreement that would serve as a permanent solution to various problems and usher in peace in the north-eastern states of India.

While informing the UN leaders about series of agitations including public rally and demonstrations against scrapping of FMR and border fencing construction across Naga areas, the ANSAM said the Government of India remains unresponsive despite all efforts.

However, the people's movement will be reverberating across Naga homeland until the Government of India respect the rights and sentiments of the Naga people and meet their rightful demands, the ANSAM memorandum said and urged the UN officials for intervention on immediate stoppage of border fencing constructions and reinstatement of the scrapped FMR.

A similar memorandum was also submitted to Prime Minister of India, Union home minister and Union external affairs minister through the Governor.

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