Imphal: Thousands of Nagas in Chandel and Tengnoupal districts in Manipur on Wednesday held a massive rally voicing against the coercive construction of border fencing and the abolition of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border.
Organised by the Chandel Naga People’s Organisation (CNPO) along with its affiliated units, NSUC, and Naga Chief Association, Chandel (NCAC), the mass rally took place at three key locations: the Chandel district headquarters, Chakpikarong, and Kapaam.
In the Chandel district headquarters, the rally began at Maha Union Govt Higher Secondary School ground and ended at the DC Office complex where a memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, through the Deputy Commissioner of Chandel, L Nandakumar Singh.
In the memorandum, the CNPO and leaders of the Naga tribe Hohos stated that the “Indo-Naga peace negotiations, a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution, are being jeopardised by the Government of India’s decision to construct border fencing in our ancestral territories”.
“This draconian measure has left us feeling betrayed, vulnerable, and apprehensive for our future, as it undermines the foundation of our autonomy, territorial rights, and self-determination,” the memorandum stated.
Through the memorandum, the CNPO, along with various Naga leaders of Chandel and Tengnoupal, called for PM Modi’s immediate intervention in the Border Fencing Construction and suspension; repealing the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) in our ancestral homelands, as it constitutes a usurpation of our autonomy and Indigenous ways of life; expediting the Indo-Naga Peace Talk and ensuring a peaceful and lasting resolution.
In the Tengnoupal district, the rally was held from three places, namely Kapaam, Tuishimi, Aimol Satu and all culminated at Lamrinkhuw village in Chandel.
A copy of the memorandum was also submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Tengnoupal, Krishna Kumar, through the ADC of the district.
In Chakpikarong, the rally was held from Tampi village Lamkhai to Public Ground, Chakpikarong.
During the rally in all the locations, the Nagas held a banner that read “Mass Public Rally Protest Against Coercive Construction of Border Fencing & Scrapping of FMR Along Indo-Myanmar Border. Today, we stand together to defend and safeguard our Naga ancestral land and people”.
They also held placards that read, ‘Break The Fence, Break The Chains’, ‘Naga Rights, Human Rights’, ‘Fences Divide, Love Unites’, ‘Respect our Roots, Restore our Rights’, etc.
Besides leaders of the tribe Hohos, the rally was also attended by UNC general secretary Vareiyo Shatsang, representatives of Naga Women’s Union, ANSAM, etc.
Meanwhile, as part of the mass rally, a 12-hour total shutdown was enforced in Chandel, Chakpikarong and various Naga-dominated areas with no vehicular movement and closed down of government offices and educational institutions. The total shutdown was called under the aegis of the Naga Students’ Union Chandel with the backing of the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM).
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