Tenyimi Union Nagaland opposes India-Myanmar border fencing
On its 1st Foundation Day observed on June 22, 2024, at Kohima Village’s VDB Hall, Ziekezou, the Tenyimi Union Nagaland (TUN) passed a resolution to stand in “unwavering solidarity” with the Nagaland Legislative Assembly’s (NLA) March 1, 2024, resolution, urging the Government of India (GoI) to reconsider its decision to erect a border fence along the Indo-Myanmar boundary.
Reiterating this resolution, the TUN stated today in a press release that the proposed fencing would “further divide the Naga people and sever historical, cultural, and familial ties that have existed for centuries.” Highlighting the Naga homeland’s historical context, the union stated, “The Naga homeland predates the creation of modern India and Myanmar. Historically, Nagas lived and thrived across these lands without interference or boundaries.”
TUN drew attention to the arbitrary borders created post-independence, dividing Naga communities. “After independence from British colonial rule, arbitrary borders were drawn without the consent of the Naga people, dividing them between two nations,” it noted.
Tracing the history of border regulations, the union pointed out that while the Free Movement Regime (FMR) in the 1950s allowed travel up to 40 km across the border, restrictions gradually increased. By 2004, “the travel distance was reduced to 16 km, with crossings allowed only at three designated points: Pangsau (Arunachal Pradesh), Moreh (Manipur), and Zokhawthar (Mizoram),” it stated. This tightening of regulations, TUN said, has “severely impacted Naga communities, restricting their economic, social, and cultural interactions.”
The union criticized the border fencing project, asserting it was being pursued “under the pretext of national security” without considering its devastating impact on Naga lives and livelihoods. “Families will be permanently separated, economic lifelines cut off, and vulnerable communities pushed further into poverty. This fencing also threatens to disrupt cultural ties, social bonds, education, and healthcare access,” the union remarked.
Citing an example of the absurdity of the project, the TUN said, “In Longwa village, the proposed fence will physically bisect the home of a Konyak Angh, with the kitchen in India and the bedroom in Myanmar.”
In a strongly worded appeal, the TUN urged the GoI to “halt the border fencing project in Naga territories” and engage in “meaningful dialogue and consultation with Naga stakeholders before making decisions that impact our ancestral land.”
Terming the fencing “not just a physical barrier but an assault on Naga identity, heritage, and dignity,” the TUN called on all Naga individuals, communities, and organizations to “stand united in defending our land, people, and collective future from further fragmentation and division.”