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DIMAPUR — The Nokhu Range Public Organisation (NRPO) and Nokhu Range Students’ Union (NRSU) reacted strongly to recent statements made by Imkong L Imchen, Advisor for Information and Public Relations, Soil and Water Conservation, who reportedly advocated for the fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border as a solution to the Naga political issue.
Labelling the remarks as ‘gibberish’, the organisations, in a joint communiqué, said that sealing the border “could potentially lead to the separation of close relatives and families and exacerbate communal tensions in the region.”
The NRPO and NRSU underscored the unique history and culture of the Naga people, and their traditional self-governance and freedom prior to British colonisation, while adding that the ‘imposition of arbitrary boundary line in the heart of our homeland without our consent’ was a grave injustice.
The organisations also expressed outrage over Imchen’s purported suggestion of counting Nagas residing beyond India's border, deeming it reckless and insensitive to the plight of communities like the Konyak, Khiamniungan, Yimkhiung, and Tikhir, who have brethren living across the border. They cited the example of the Khiamniungan Nagas, with over 160 villages on the Myanmar side, facing significant challenges due to the division imposed by the border.
Condemning the legislator for acting against the common aspirations of the Naga people, they accused him of being swayed by external influences that seek to prevent Naga unity.
“Instead of representing the true voice of the Nagas, such individuals have become mere mouthpieces for his benefactors, causing harm to our society and compromising our inherent freedom. This misguided allegiance not only damages our sense of unity but also fosters ignorance among our own brothers and sisters. Despite being united as Nagas, we find ourselves increasingly estranged from one another due to these divisions sown by ignorance of our shared origins,” the communiqué stated.
The NRPO and NRSU called for genuine concern for the collective future of the Naga people, particularly from individuals occupying positions of authority and influence, rather than creating further fragmentation and “creating isms among us.”