Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has strongly condemned the recent announcement by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on January 20, 2024 that the Central government has decided to fence the India-Myanmar border.
NSF president Medovi Rhi and general secretary Chumben Khuvung also stated that the move to abolish the existing Free Movement Regime agreement between India and Myanmar has raised grave concerns among Nagas, who they said have “historically endured the consequences of external forces imposing arbitrary divisions.”
NSF has urged the Nagaland government to proactively engage with the central government to ensure that FMR was not abolished. It stated that FMR served as a vital bridge fostering connections, relations, and cooperation between the Naga people on both sides of the Saramati mountain range. “Its abolition would disrupt the historical ties and cooperation that have existed for generations,” NSF said.
NSF has cautioned the individuals or political entities against taking advantage of the issue solely for political mileage in Delhi. NSF said that Nagas’ aspiration for autonomy and respect for their rights should not be compromised for short-term political gains. It urged all the stakeholders to prioritise the welfare and aspirations of the Naga people “over political opportunism.”
Asserting that Naga people have long suffered the consequences of “arbitrary divisions imposed by external forces”, the NSF said that any attempt to further divide and fence the Nagas was as an affront to their rights and autonomy.
Describing as “deeply troubling” the recent decision to abolish FMR especially considering India’s status as a global power and signatory to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007 (UNDRIP), NSF pointed out that Article 36 of the UNDRIP explicitly recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples divided by international borders to maintain and develop connections, relations, and cooperation across borders for various purposes.
NSF asserted that the 1,643km-long India-Myanmar border, traversing through Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, was a complex landscape with diverse communities and histories.
Therefore, the apex Naga student body has called upon the government of India to reconsider its decision and engage in a meaningful dialogue with the Naga community. “It is imperative to find a solution that not only respects our historical rights but also aligns with the international commitments made by the Indian government to uphold the rights of indigenous peoples,” NSF reminded.
The federation also affirmed to disallow “any divisive powers” to further segregate the Naga people “based on their political whims and imperialistic conveniences” by any manmade boundaries or imaginary lines in the Naga homeland. NSF asserted that Naga people cannot be denied of the right to maintain and develop connections amongst their ethnic selves that have been integral to their cultural, social, and economic fabric.