Ukhrul: The ongoing border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border, which cuts through the Naga homeland, should not proceed until the long-standing boundary dispute is addressed and resolved, says Leishiyo Keishing, MLA of 43-Phungyar (ST) AC in Manipur.
Speaking on the sidelines of a recent mass rally in Ukhrul against the withdrawal of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the border fencing, Keishing underscored the historical roots of the dispute, tracing it back to the 1826 Treaty of Yandabo between British colonial rulers and the Burmese Kingdom.
The mass protest was organized by the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) in collaboration with other Tangkhul organizations under the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC), demanding the Central government restore the FMR and halt border fencing.
According to Keishing, the boundary was arbitrarily drawn without consulting the people inhabiting the region, leading to generations of discontent. “No one was consulted, and now, the third generation is still protesting against this issue,” he said, vowing to continue standing for his people.
He urged the Centre to halt border fencing until the dispute is rectified, asserting that the traditional Naga homeland extends to the Chindwin River. “Vast portions of land belonging to the Nagas have been lost to Myanmar due to arbitrary boundary demarcations,” he added.
Keishing highlighted that of the 126 villages and 10 hamlets in his constituency, at least 54 border villages in Kamjong district are directly impacted. He pointed out that since 1967, hill communities, particularly those in border villages, have opposed the colonial-era demarcation, inherited by successive Indian governments.
He called for resolving the dispute through documentation, diplomatic communiqués, and open dialogues involving both governments and local leaders to find mutually acceptable solutions. Despite multiple border pillar and boundary surveys conducted in Manipur, no concrete resolution has been achieved, he noted.
Keishing also opposed the scrapping of FMR, emphasizing its significance for families and communities straddling the border. “We have common festivals and family ties. If FMR is removed, should we go to Kolkata or Delhi to apply for a visa just to visit our relatives?” he asked.
In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Keishing urged the Centre to withhold border fencing, arguing that during the colonial era, the Naga Hills were classified as ‘secluded areas,’ leading to inaccurate mapping. “British maps misrepresented tribal territories, dividing the Nagas between two countries. Scrapping FMR and fencing the border will only deepen this alienation,” he stated.
He further contended that such actions violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rights of indigenous people living across artificial borders.
Since the Indian government’s February 8, 2024, announcement to fence the entire 1,643 km India-Myanmar border across Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram, tribal communities—including the Tangkhul Nagas of Ukhrul and Kamjong—have strongly opposed the move.
The Free Movement Regime, introduced in 1968, originally allowed visa-free movement within 40 km across the India-Myanmar border. This was reduced to 16 km in 2004, with further restrictions added in 2016. The policy has been crucial in preserving familial, cultural, and ethnic ties among border communities.
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