Dimapur, Jan. 26: Eastern Naga Students’ Association (ENSA) has strongly opposed the ongoing international border fencing construction at Pangsha village by joint team of India and Myanmar governments and accused the latter of trying to divide the Nagas brothers and demolish the sovereign rights to live together in God’s gifted Naga soil.
‘By erecting border fencing in the heart of Nagas’ soil, the governments of India and Myanmar are not only dividing the Naga brothers but also demolishing the sovereign rights of Nagas to live together in God’s gifted Naga soil,’ ENSA president Reego Shonshei Tangshang and the general secretary Jüvsangthong S Makury said in a joint statement.
Mentioning that Nagas were divided without consultation in 1953 by Jawaharlal Nehru, then prime minister of India, and U Nu, president of then Burma now Myanmar, ENSA said Nagas do not accept this cowardice act till today.
Stating that Nagas neither have cultural division nor social differences, it said they have been living as one family since time immemorial despite attempt of both India and Myanmar governments to ‘divide and rule.’
ENSA encouraged government of both countries to spend money in establishing educational institutions for students, better road connectivity, commercial hub, etc. to improve the poor living condition of people in the region instead of spending crores of money on constructing walls and putting fencing which divides people.
While pointing out that there are more than 10,000 students from Eastern Nagaland (Myanmar) studying in present India state (Nagaland), ENSA said the border fencing on artificial demarcated border will directly hamper the career of students as it would stop them from getting education in their own homeland. It expressed apprehension that there will be no free movements once the fencing is put up. It said the sole idea is to divide our own brothers living within our ancestral land.
While reiterating to take any step to stop the border fencing, ENSA urged upon every bonafide Naga people to stand with the Association in their fight for justice.
