Khiamniungan Tribal Council seek governor’s intervention on border fencing and Free Movement Regime
KTC has sought the intervention of Nagaland Governor to reconsider construction of fencing along Indo-Myanmar border and to
retain the Free Movement Regime (FMR) provision of 2018.
- DIMAPUR — The
Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC) has sought the intervention of Nagaland
Governor to reconsider construction of fencing along Indo-Myanmar border and to
retain the Free Movement Regime (FMR) provision of 2018.
- In a representation to the government, KTC stated that the
origin of Indo-Myanmar imaginary line demarcation boundary of India’s northeast
region was an arbitrary decision of the colonialism. It stated that stretching
from the border pillar (BP) No. 139 Thongsonyu-to-BP 146 at ITC (DAN) Pangsha
within its territory was neither with the consent of the people or Nagas.
- It claimed that the ‘Treaty of Yandaboo’ in 1826 signed by
General Sir Archibald Campbell on behalf of the British and Governor of Legaing
Maha Min Hla Kyaw Htin on behalf of the Burmese and the ‘Yangon Agreement’ on
March 10, 1967 between India and Myanmar by Jawaharal Nehru and U Nu was
utterly erroneous and unacceptable for its people and Nagas in general.
- KTC mentioned that the Khiamniungan community has been
living as one tribe since time immemorial with mutual respect for social,
economic, cultural and familial ties across the border and never ever lived as
divided tribe till time. As the livelihood of its people predominantly depended
on agriculture, it stated that there are instances of holding jhum land and
fields existing on either side of the border.
- “If the Government of India enforces in reality, then this
imposition will severely impact the daily activities of our economy in local
trade and business through trans-border that will push into poverty and also
jeopardise the fundamental rights and dignity of our long traditional practices
which are vital for sustenance of our livelihoods,” KTC said.
- In the event of arbitrary interference, it stated that
Khiamniungan Naga from India and Myanmar would vehemently resist and protest
against any external imposition to fence that prohibits the freedom of movement
within their own territory.
- It also declared to continue unrestricted access to
farmlands, fields, villages and towns, to brothers and sisters and not
subjected to visa, passport or any other document within their ancestral land.
- KTC further reminded the Government of India and the state
of Nagaland to prioritise the designated International Trade Centre (ITC), DAN,
as functional development zone on the principles of maintaining diplomatic
relations towards South East Asian countries, realising on the ‘Act East
Policy’ in building the nation in broader sense and beyond rather than
restrictions.
