Longwa village’s chief angh Tonyei Phawang has opposed the Centre’s decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and erect fence along the India-Myanmar border.
In a statement, Phawang pointed out that Longwa, one of the major villages in Mon district, was strategically located on the Indo-Myanmar Border and was home to approximately 6,000 people practically living in both the countries but under one anghship, one church and one administration. As per recent records, he said there were 990 households at Longwa, scattered in both Indian and Myanmar territories. And, exactly on the boundary line, there were 170 households, including chief angh’s residence, Government Primary School, church, Assam Rifles post, shops and other public properties.
He mentioned that the village had eight jhum farmlands and two forest reserves, out of which four jhum farmlands and one forest reserve fell in Myanmar. As a village, he claimed that Longwa originated in the 16th century, adding that it was only during the 20th century (1970-71) that India and Myanmar jointly demarcated the boundary line through the middle of the village and divided it between two countries.
Claiming that the boundary demarcation was done without concrete knowledge of the village people, he said had the people then knew about the division of the village between the two countries, there was no way they would have accept the proposal, and would have rejected it outright.
However, despite the boundary demarcation that tried to differentiate the identity of the society, Phawang said they had been living with a single identity as proud citizens of Longwa village and Konyak Nagas since time immemorial.
“And till this day, without any single border tension, we have been immensely contributing to peaceful co-existence with people from beyond the border,” he pointed out.
However, he stated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on January 20 this year, while addressing the passing out parade of commandos of Assam Police at Guwahati, affirmed that the Centre would be putting up fence along India’s border with Myanmar in the Northeast.
Phawang said the Union Minister had also announced that the Central government had been deliberating on the existing agreement with Myanmar and had decided to remove the Free Movement Regime (FMR).
He mentioned that he disagreed with Shah since it would divide the people socially and culturally.
He stated that if the Centre executed the plan, people living along the border would be adversely affected in multiple ways. “Especially in the case of Longwa village, since we are scattered in both the sides, our separation by erection of border fence is something we never thought of and in any circumstances, we will not accept the idea,” he declared.
Hence, on behalf of the people of Longwa, he urged the state government led by chief minister Neiphiu Rio to look into the matter and voice its opposition to the scrapping of FMR and subsequent erection of border fence on the Indo-Myanmar border.
He said he pinned high hopes on the authority and assured his fullest cooperation towards any of his approaches on this matter.