DIMAPUR — The Fellowship of Naga Baptist Associations (FNBA) has opposed the suspension of the free movement regime (FMR) along the “Naga-Myanmar border” and has urged the union government to reconsider the suspension.
In a press release, the association further appealed to the Government of India to respect the rights of the Naga people and understand the severity of basic rights violations caused by a mere fence for those living in the border regions.
The FNBA said that the existing artificial boundary imposed by colonial powers has long caused much ordeal among the Nagas living in the border areas, including separation of communities and families and hardships to economic, cultural, and ethnic ties.
“Now, the proposed move of the centre to suspend the free movement regime will create even more insurmountable barriers to social interactions, cultural exchange, and community support, as well as affect day-to-day lives and activities,” it said, adding that it will violate basic human interaction and will further isolate the Naga communities on both sides of the border.
According to the release, Nagas have lived in harmony as one people for decades, regardless of imaginary boundaries, and want to be able to move freely across traditional territory and live together as one family.
It stated that the border shared with Myanmar is 398 kilometres in Manipur, 520 kilometres in Arunachal Pradesh, the majority of which are in Naga areas, and 215 kilometres in Nagaland, and that any attempt to abolish FMR along this border will hurt the sentiments of the Naga communities as a whole and erode the trust of the Nagas in the government.
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