NPF, PAPO rally against border fencing and scrapping of FMR in Avakhung

The Naga People’s Front (NPF) and the Phokhungri Area Public Organisation (PAPO) held a joint rally at the Indo-Myanmar Trade Centre in Avakhung, Meluri, on April 29, voicing their strong opposition to the ongoing border fencing initiatives and the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) by the Government of India.

Addressing the rally, NPF Secretary General and MLA, Achumbemo Kikon, reaffirmed his party’s commitment to opposing the ongoing border fencing initiatives and the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) by the Government of India that have severely affected the Naga communities along the Indo-Myanmar border.

Kikon highlighted the severe consequences of the ongoing border fencing and suspension of the FMR, which he said have caused immense suffering for Naga communities in Longwa, Pangsha, and Avakhung. He reiterated that the Naga people have no enmity towards either India or Myanmar and seek peaceful relations based on shared history and indigenous rights.

Kikon also expressed condolences on the passing of Pope Francis and condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. He underscored the NPF’s unwavering commitment to peace and dialogue, emphasizing the party’s motto, “Fide Non Armis”—”By Faith, Not By Arms”—and denounced the use of violence in the name of politics or religion.

Protecting Naga people’s identity and dignity
Kikon stressed that the rally was not aimed at provoking unrest but was a peaceful stand to protect the identity and dignity of the Naga people. He explained how arbitrary boundary decisions by colonial and post-colonial administrations have divided the Nagas across several states and even the international border, without consultation or consent. “It is time the Nagas declare—we shall no longer tolerate further division of our land and people,” he said.

Recalling historical precedents, Kikon referenced the firm stand taken by former Chief Ministers Hokishe Sema and TN Angami in the 1960s and 70s, when they wrote to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi opposing border demarcations.

He also lauded the present Chief Minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio, for raising the matter again during the North Eastern Council (NEC) meeting in Agartala on December 21, 2024. “Naga leaders across generations have stood against the division of our people. We must continue to uphold that legacy,” he added.

The Secretary General also cited the resolution passed by the Nagaland Legislative Assembly opposing border fencing and the abolition of the FMR, assuring the public that the NPF would continue to pressure the central government to halt these divisive actions and instead engage with the Naga people in good faith.

Opposition to border fencing and biometric collection
Addressing the gathering, which included representatives from the Makury and Para Naga communities, Kikon emphasized that the Naga people should never be treated like security threats. “Nagas living in any part of our ancestral land are not criminals. Border fences are meant for criminals—not for us. You cannot fence us in,” he declared, drawing applause from the crowd.

Kikon pointed out that the Pochury villages, which straddle Myanmar and Nagaland, existed long before the independence of India and Burma. Therefore, he said, the current proposal to construct fencing undermines the historical and cultural continuity of the Naga people. Furthermore, he condemned the collection of biometric and fingerprint data in border villages, arguing that such measures only burden the daily lives of already marginalized communities.

He also referenced the refusal of Naga villages in Burma to join the Burmese Union in 1948 asserting their sovereignty and the Naga declaration of independence to Mahatma Gandhi on August 14, 1947, prior to India’s independence. “The current fencing attempt is yet another effort to erase these truths. It must be opposed,” he said.

PAPO President’s solidarity message
In his address, PAPO President Paratsü extended a warm welcome to the NPF delegation and highlighted the historic significance of the rally. Paratsü stressed the strong bond between Naga communities on both sides of the border, and revealed that there are 34 Naga villages in Myanmar that are direct extensions of Pochury villages in Nagaland, and the people across the border are considered family. He lamented that, in the past, people moved freely between these areas without needing passports or biometric identification. “Today, our people are suffering under new restrictions that treat us like outsiders in our own land,” he said.

Paratsü reaffirmed PAPO’s strong opposition to the border fencing and the scrapping of the FMR, calling these moves inhumane and against the spirit of unity among the Naga people. “This land is ours—not given by India or Burma—but passed down from our ancestors. No artificial boundary can change that,” Paratsü declared.

Commitment to protecting Naga identity and land
As the rally concluded, both the NPF and PAPO reiterated their resolve to continue working together to protect Naga identity, land, and cultural integrity.

MT