The Konyak Union (KU) has submitted an appeal to the Governor of Nagaland, urging intervention to reconsider the Government of India’s decision to construct border fencing along the India-Myanmar boundary and to revoke the decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) provision of 2018.
In its letter, addressed through the Deputy Commissioner of Mon, the KU stated, “This decision will have a profoundly adverse impact on the Konyak Naga community, whose ancestral lands and people have been inseparably connected on both sides of the border since time immemorial.”
The KU highlighted that the border demarcation between India and Myanmar was based on arbitrary colonial decisions, referencing historical treaties such as the Treaty of Yandabo (1826) and subsequent agreements in 1834, 1881, 1894, 1896, 1921, 1992, and the Yangon Agreement of 10th March 1967. “These historical agreements were made without the consent or knowledge of the Konyak Naga community, whose territories were split without regard for the indigenous population’s cultural, social, and familial ties,” the letter stated.
The Union pointed out that Konyak villages on the Indian side have large portions of their agricultural land situated in Myanmar. “The fencing of this boundary will not only deprive them of their farming lands but also severely disrupt their livelihoods, causing unimaginable hardship. It will also lead to the loss of vital connections for Konyak families residing inside Myanmar, who depend heavily on the Indian side for ration, daily needs, and basic necessities,” the KU stated.
Citing the case of Longwa village, which is uniquely divided by the international boundary, the KU emphasized the impracticality of fencing the village. “It is inconceivable and deeply inhumane to consider erecting a fence through the center of such a community or to impose pass permits on villagers who have lived freely across this land for generations,” the letter stated.
The KU further asserted that if fencing was deemed necessary, it should follow the traditional boundary lines of the Konyak Naga community and not the “artificial lines drawn by colonial and post-colonial authorities.” The Union made its stance clear, stating, “The Konyak community will not accept any forceful division of its land and people.”
Strong opposition was also expressed regarding the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR), which was implemented in 2018 to facilitate cross-border movement for indigenous communities. “This regime has been crucial in preserving the cultural integrity and social fabric of border communities. The decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs to revoke the FMR and fence the 1,640 km boundary is based on false premises and a misrepresentation of the realities faced by indigenous communities,” the KU stated.
Additionally, the KU pointed out that the move contradicts India’s own “Neighborhood First” and “Act East” policies. “It marks a significant reversal of the free border movement that has existed for generations between India and Myanmar,” the appeal read.
On humanitarian grounds, the Konyak Union fervently appealed to the Governor to take up the matter with the Government of India. “The Konyak Union remains firm in its stand to protect the rights, land, and unity of our people, and we hope that your intervention will lead to a more just and compassionate resolution,” the letter added.