Kohima: In response to the Government of India’s recent announcement to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR), the Nagas in the Eastern region have vehemently denounced what they perceive as an oppressive decision to fence and bifurcate Naga villages, fields, and farmlands between India and Myanmar.
The move, claimed to be justified through divisive policies, is seen as a flagrant violation of Naga sovereignty, rooted in their historical existence.
An official statement from the Naga Students Organisation (NSO), Hq. Lahe Town, Sagaing Region, Myanmar, pointed out that the imaginary border imposed in 1953 by India and Myanmar within the heart of Naga Land remains unrecognised and illegal according to the Naga people and the global community.
Firmly rooted in the struggle for freedom from the invasive clutches of India and Myanmar, NSO said the Nagas assert that their fight for self-determination is resolute, unwavering, and will persist until the people’s aspirations are realised.
It said, the Free Movement Regime (FMR), unilaterally established by India and Myanmar, is met with outright rejection by the Nagas. Any attempt by the governments in Delhi and Naypyidaw to control the free movement of the Naga people within their homeland is expected to face fierce opposition and robust retaliation. The Nagas staunchly affirms their inherent right to move freely across their fields, farmlands, and villages without the imposition of passports or visas.
India’s recent decision has drawn widespread condemnation from various quarters, with the NSO asserting that India, as a signatory to the Universal Human Rights Law, should reconsider its actions and allow the Naga people the freedom to make choices and live unencumbered.
The NSO strongly condemns the statements made by Imkong L Imchen and Temjen Imna Along regarding the FMR. The organisation said the integrity of these individuals is now under scrutiny, and clarification is sought on whether they have compromised Naga rights to gain favor with the BJP government, potentially marking them as traitors in the annals of Naga history.
The Nagas under Myanmar-occupied Nagaland view themselves as victims of the Naga National cause, and any such statements from people’s representatives are deemed deeply shocking and intolerable. The Nagas in the East, who have stood true to their common goals alongside their brethren in the West, make it unequivocally clear that any betrayal will not be forgiven by their ancestors for generations to come, the statement read.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
While extending its solidarity with Naga Organisations that have condemned Delhi’s divisive policies, the Nagas under Myanmar-occupied Nagaland call upon all Naga Civil Societies and Leaders, especially those on Indian-occupied Naga Land, to unite and oppose any laws that threaten the rights of the Naga people. United, the Nagas shall overcome someday, it said.
NSO said that this condemnation echoes the Lahe Declaration, a testament to the collective will and determination of the Naga people in Eastern Naga Land, reflecting their unwavering commitment to the promotion of their cultural identity, territorial integrity, and the pursuit of peace within the Naga Homeland.
Also Read | Sweet success: Despite challenges, Nagaland’s orange farmers thriving