Kohima: The Nagaland government, on Thursday, reaffirmed its decision to oppose the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the proposed border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border.
Out of the total 1,643 km long boundary between India and Myanmar, Nagaland shares 215 km of the International Border with Myanmar.
During a discussion on matter of public importance initiated by Naga People’s Front (NPF) legislature party leader Kuzholuzo Nienu on the third day of the budget session, the elected representatives expressed why Nagaland is objecting the FMR.
While senior legislator Imkong L Imchen supported the Centre’s decision, stressing the need to mark a demarcated international boundary, other legislators rightly objected the Centre’s move by expressing fear of dividing the Nagas.
On Tuesday, the BJP legislator had said that he endorses the Centre’s decision to scrap the FMR as for India as a nation state, there has to be a clear-cut boundary. He cited how the absence of a demarcated boundary along the eastern borders of the country has paved way for insurgency and secession activities.
He also pointed out that the lack of a demarcated boundary with the neighboring states has led to dispute along the inter-state borders between Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
Contrary to this, NPF legislator Achumbemo Kikon said the present situation is a testing time for Naga legislators. Kikon pointed out that Nagas were divided across two nations-India and Burma, now Myanmar. The Nagas, he said, remain divided even within the country across four states namely Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. He urged the need to oppose FMR to prevent the disintegration of Nagas.
As for JDU legislator Jwenga Seb, the decision to fence the Indo-Myanmar border at the present imaginary line is also tantamount to parting with a huge area of Indian land to Myanmar Nagaland being a part of Indian Union.
He raised concern on how the decision to scrap the FMR was made without sufficient public consultation or transparent discourse. “The abrupt termination of the age-old established and seasoned convention for ‘Free Movement’ raises questions about the impact on communities and individuals who have benefitted from the ease of movement across borders,” the first-time legislator said.
Likewise, deputy chief minister and minister in charge of National Highway, TR Zeliang, said that the idea of a border fencing is a serious issue for the Naga people.
The NDPP legislator called upon the Government of India to develop a comprehensive and balanced approach for border management stating that any unilateral decision to impose its arbitrary decision to divide the Naga people by constructing border fencings may have deep negative impact in the days to come.
The FMR, he noted, permits cross-border movement up to 16 Kms without a visa. However, the idea of fencing the Indo-Myanmar Border and to decision to scrap the prevailing privilege will antagonise the Naga people.
“For the Naga people, the desire to bond and connect, to prosper and to live together as one people is a legitimate right,” Zeliang said.
LJP legislator Naiba Konyak informed the 60-member legislative Assembly that 40% of the land in four Naga villages under Mon district are located in Myanmar, as it existed prior to the demarcation. The border fencing, he pointed, will lead to the loss of land and property of residents living at the international border.
NPF legislature party leader Kuzholuzo Nienu urged the need for the state assembly to pass a resolution requesting the Centre to consult all state Government or stakeholders before taking a final call, and to regulate a system and adopt stringent law in checking insurgency and drug peddling, instead of fencing the borders.
BJP legislature party leader and deputy chief minister in-charge of Home and border affairs, Yanthungo Patton, informed that in pursuance with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notifications, the state has identified seven entry/exit points on the international border.
He said that the respective Administrative Offices were designated as Pass Issuing Authority in the year 2017. Later, another eleven entry and exit points were identified.
The recent announcement, according to Patton, created anxiety among the Naga people.
“The boundaries that divide us are not the natural boundaries but man-made, and suspension of FMR and fencing will lead to serious disruption of the close social, tribal and economic ties of our indigenous people living in the border areas as well as denying access to many to their own ancestral lands,” he said.
On 8th February 2024, he said that the state cabinet deliberated on the matter and that ithe cabinet decided to request the Central Government to continue the FMR and also to enact appropriate regulations and lay down processes for movement of people across the borders in close consultation with the people inhabiting the border areas of the State.
The Cabinet further decided to request for suitably bringing in the village council authorities concerned in the entire system of regulations of the FMR.
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Accordingly, the state government conveyed its deep concern to the Government of India and requested the continuation of the FMR and to work out regulations for movement of people across the borders in close consultation with the people inhabiting the border areas, and for bringing in the village councils in the entire system of regulations.
“We remain committed to continue pursuing for an early and favourable response of the Government of India to our pleas in regard to FMR,” he said.
As reported earlier, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio had informed that the state has written to the Centre to reconsider the suspension of the FMR in the state.
Also Read | Nagaland awaits Centre’s response on border fencing, FMR suspension