Tenyimi Union Dimapur (TUD) and Eastern Nagaland People’s Union Dimapur (ENPUD) have expressed deep concern over the proposed fencing and scarping of free movement regime (FMR) at the India-Myanmar border.
In a joint press statement, TUD president Vekhosayi Nyekha and ENPUD president L Shahoto Yimchunger stated that they were alarmed by the “nefarious policy of creating another division amongst our kith and kin” by doing away with FMR and erecting border fencing.
The two bodies stated that Nagas since time immemorial had been living in their ancestral lands, which had been “arbitrarily divided” between Myanmar and India in 1953.
TUD and ENPUD asserted that Nagas have borne the brunt of various violations of human rights perpetrated by both the Myanmar and the Indian government, but were still resilient and hopeful that both the countries would respect their rights and wishes to remain together.
The two organisations stated that it was “incomprehensible” that Nagas have to carry passports/visas to toil own fields beyond the border or to visit their kith and kin.
Therefore, TUD and ENPUD have implored upon the government of India to be sensitive towards the emotions of the Naga people. “Any attempts to abrogate the FMR and build fences on our ancestral homeland, the ENPUD and TUD will oppose it tooth and nail,” the two bodies affirmed. They also appealed to the Nagaland Legislators to stand firm on the unity of the Nagas and speak in one accord on the issue.