Scrapping of FMR, border fencing undermine Naga political aspirations — NNC (Singnya)

DIMAPUR — The NNC/FGN (Singnya group) has termed the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and ongoing fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border as a strategy of the Government of India to further fragment the Naga community and undermine the Naga political aspirations.

In a press release, the NNC Singnya group said that for the Nagas, the land represents an inherent birthright, and steadfast commitment to safeguarding ancestral territories remains unwavering, “regardless of the implications posed by the border fence, which risks exacerbating existing tensions that can easily turn the border red.”

Asserting that the Naga people will continue to preserve and uphold the integrity and sovereignty of the ancestral lands, the NNC said that the Naga future, characterised by a constant pursuit of self-determination, cannot be dictated by external forces or diplomatic interventions.

“Our commitment to historical autonomy remains resolute, and we resist any imposition that seeks to subvert our indelible right to live as a nation,” it affirmed.

The FGN maintained that the GoI’s strategy perpetuates the legacy of colonial-era cartographic endeavours, reflecting a deeper issue into how territorial boundaries are conceptualised and implemented.

It went on to mention that historically, the creation of maps and borders was influenced by the colonial British administration, which often resulted in vague and imprecise delineations of territory.

“Consequently, the Indo-Myanmar border, characterised by its arbitrary demarcation, was established by British colonial administrators and subsequently endorsed by the post-colonial states of India and Burma as a component of their territorial frameworks,” the group said.

Further, the NNC Singnya iterated that the construction of border fencing threatens to create divisions that extend into the social, economic and cultural domains.

“Masquerading to enhance security and regulatory oversight, the discarding of FMR fences will disrupt long-standing communal ties, impede economic interactions, and restrict the free movement of the Naga people, ultimately fostering a climate of disillusionment and resentment.

“The Naga communities perceive this border as an artificial construct – an imaginary line created over seven decades ago – without any consultation or consent from the inhabitants. Such an act/policy to fence the border will further aggravate the Indo-Naga political conflict and dwindle the ongoing political dialogues with the GoI,” it added.

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