Rio lays NE road map to Yangon, Delhi at International summit
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, January 31, 2012: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has advocated that the Governments of India and Myanmar need to have a people oriented approach to address the issues that are impacting the people of the North East India region by understanding the ground realities.

Addressing the International Conference on Myanmar at Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi jointly organised by Jamia Millia Islamia University and Tampadipa Institute, Yangon today, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said the North Eastern region of India comprises seven States, which includes 1664 kilometres of international boundary between India and Myanmar.

These seven States include ethnic and indigenous population most of who are tribals, having rich cultural heritage.

Four States from the North-Eastern India share international boundaries with Myanmar, namely Arunachal Pradesh Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland, and this region is connected to mainland India by a small chicken neck which is just 2pc of the total length of the surrounding boundary, he added.

The remaining 98 pc is surrounded by international boundaries, with China in the north, Myanmar in the east and Bangladesh in the west, Rio also said.

"Geographically, the region lies nestled between the world's two most populous countries, one of which is the largest democracy, India and the other being the most powerful communist Nation, China.

Four States from the North-Eastern India share international boundaries with Myanmar

Keeping all these aspects in mind, the Governments of India and Myanmar need to have a people oriented approach to address the issues that are impacting the people of the region by understanding the ground realities," the Nagaland Chief Minister said.

Neiphiu Rio further said, the Government of India has lifted the Protected Area Permit from the NE, with positive impact, as witnessed by the increase in foreign tourists to Nagaland during the last two "Hornbill Festivals", also known as the "Festival of Festivals" held annually from 1-7th December.

At the moment, the Government of India and Myanmar follows an open border policy.

I feel that this position should not be disturbed, as it is working well, Rio stated.

"This open border policy is especially important for Nagaland, because many Naga villages sit right on the international boundary.

This happened due to the fact that Indo-Myanmar border was drawn on the basis of water-shed, and since Nagas by tradition built their villages on the hill-tops, many Naga villages were cut into two halves by the international boundary," the Nagaland chief minister said.

"The daily movement of the Naga villages across the border for their daily jhuming and other activities is a necessity.

Although the Ministry of Home Affairs have been advocating introduction of border passes, I am strongly of the opinion that issuing of passes by Government officials would be cumbersome and impracticable.

The people living in these areas have taken the international boundaries in their stride, but there has been practically no migration across the border because of the Naga's land holding system.

Hence, we should not disturb the present peaceful situation and create new problem where it does not exist," Rio further stated.

Mentioning about the Naga population spread over in India and Myanmar, Neiphiu Rio said the Indo-Myanmar region along the international boundary between India and Myanmar is populated by an ethnic and indigenous population that has been living in these territories since time immemorial.

The Naga population on both sides of the border share a common heritage, culture, traditions, history and religion.

One million of Naga population are placed in Myanmar while four millions of the Naga population are within the Indian Union, and are further divided into four states of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, he stated while adding, "The Naga population has gone through a period of strive and struggle for more than six decades.

The Nagas are happy that in August 2010, the Government of Myanmar has finally accorded political recognition to the Nagas in the form of the "Naga Autonomous Self Administered Zone", and the Nagas participated enthusiastically in the Myanmar national elections in November, 2010".