Another rally demonstrates Nagas’ opposition to Indo-Myanmar border fencing

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• Protestors during the mass rally against border fencing and FMR removal at ITC DAN Pangsha on April 3. (EM Images)

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• KOHIMA — Hundreds of people gathered on Thursday at the International Trade Centre DAN in Pansgha, Noklak district, near the Indo-Myanmar border, to express their strong opposition to the government of India’s decision to fence the border and scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR).
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• Organised jointly by the Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC) and the Naga People's Front (NPF), the protestors challenged the decision to fence the border and stated that they don’t require visas and passports within their own land and that they “are of one blood and one family.”
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• The KTC had earlier called for a democratic public rally following an emergency meeting held at Noklak town on March 30 and extended an invitation to all like-minded individuals to participate in the rally.

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• The NPF also took part in the rally that coincides with their marathon public rally against FMR scrapping and border fencing, which began on April 1 at Longwa in Mon district.
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• Addressing the rally on Thursday, NPF legislator Achumbemo Kikon said that Nagas will “never accept” the government of India’s decision to divide the Nagas, their families, homes, forests, and lands.
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• “Who are they to come and divide our land, our homes, and our families?   This is impossible,” Kikon maintained.

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• He said that the government of India and the government of Myanmar have “taken advantage” of the Nagas’ simplicity and truthful nature for many years.
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• But now, “we have to tell both Burma and India that Nagas cannot be taken for a ride anymore; Nagas cannot be fooled anymore,” Kikon asserted.
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• The people, unlike in the past when they were not educated, are now conscious of their rights and are capable of defending and protecting their people and land, he said.
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• “We will no longer be trampled by others. We will rise and defend our rights,” he added.

Also read: NPF-led rally against border fencing held at Longwa village

Thousands of Nagas rally against fencing of Indo-Myanmar border

• Kikon remarked that the Centre should know that without taking the Naga people into full confidence, there cannot be a Look East Policy or an Act East Policy.
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• He maintained that if the government of India wants to reach out to the Southeast Asian countries, it has to go through Naga homeland.
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• He dismissed as “lame excuses” the Centre’s reported reason for fencing the Indo-Myanmar border: drug trafficking and influx of illegal immigrants.
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• There are “no illegal immigrants” along the border, as every Naga has their own village, he said, adding that the people aren’t indulging in drug trafficking either.
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• “They come for either essential commodities or to visit some of their kin. There is no threat besides our people visiting their own people,” he said.
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• Fellow NPF legislator P Longon said that approximately 6000 to 7000 hectares of Pangsha land are falling under the “imaginary line.”
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• “So we will never accept this (border fencing). Why should we give away our land?” he said while adding the place belongs to the Nagas.
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• Voicing strong opposition to the construction of border fencing and scrapping of FMR, he said that Nagas will continue to fight against it.