TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2025
NPF-led rally against border fencing held at Longwa village
Published on Apr 1, 2025
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Villagers and NPF leaders during the public rally against border fencing at Longwa village on Tuesday. (EM images)
- KOHIMA — The Naga People's Front (NPF) on Tuesday commenced its ‘public rally’ along the state’s border districts, in protest against border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar and scrapping of Free Movement Regime (FMR).
- Nagaland shares 215-km boundary with Myanmar.
- Kicking off the rally at border village of Longwa in Mon district, the party leaders and worker along with the villagers hit the village street voicing strong opposition to the border fencing.
- The public rally was marked by protestors marching from the Assam Rifles camp to the chief Angh's residence in Longwa.
- “Do not divide Nagas further,” “We are against border fencing,” “We want to live together” were some of the slogans raised by the protestors.
- Addressing the rally, NPF secretary general and MLA, Achumbemo Kikon, informed that Longwa village existed before India and Myanmar got independence from the British rule - Aug.15, 1947 and Jan. 4, 1948 - respectively.
- “But now, the Government of India's decision to impose fencing means dividing families which is not acceptable,” he said.
- Stating that NPF is a party that raises the sentiments of the people, he asserted that the party will oppose lifting of FMR and not let it happen.
- He told the gathering to urge the Centre to reconsider its decision as Nagas “will not agree and will not let it happen.”
- Kikon went on to add that Nagas are not encroaching upon anybody's land but only preserving and protecting their rights and their land.
- Maintaining that it is not acceptable for the Government of India to divide the Naga forefathers’ land, he urged the people to stand up for their rights.
- “Nobody should fool us and we should not allow anybody to fool us. We know our rights and we know where to stand up for our rights,” he said.
- Sharing that Nagas are people who love their land and settle permanently in their respective villages, once established, the NPF leader said that “the Centre should not reduce Nagas to nomads.”
- “Naga areas have long been divided into various sections and yet they (Centre) still want to further divide us.”
- He also claimed that the Centre is “blocking”' its own road and contradicting its own ‘Act East Policy’ and ‘neighbourhood first’ by imposing the border fencing. These policies, he remarked, are not right.
- Further, Kikon called upon the Nagas, particularly those living in the border areas, to stand up for their rights, saying that if people do not know their rights, “then they will cease to exist on this earth.”
- Chief Angh Tonyei Phawang, NPF president Apong Pongener and Yanlang Konyak, Longwa village council chairman, also addressed the rally.
- The NPF will continue its rally at bordering points including Pangsha in Noklak district, traverse Tuensang district and culminate at Pungro in Kiphire district.
Nagaland Districts
