Kohima, March 23 (EMN): Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) today expressed opposition towards construction of fencing along the international border between Myanmar and India in Pangsha area under Noklak sub-division of Tuensang district. Although the construction works have been suspended at the moment through the intervention of the Government of India on appeal from the State government, State legislators were of the view that such fencing would divide the Naga people who live on either sides of the border adding the issue must be addressed tri-laterally.
“Even before the Indian nation was born and before the Myanmar nation was born, Nagas have inhabited this part of the region. With the fencing that is coming up, if that is to be allowed, then it would mean the Angh (chief) of Longwa’s house will be partitioned right in the middle and to cross over the fence to meet his own family members would require certain permissions,” said education minister Yitachu while participating in the debate on the Governor’s address at the ongoing assembly session.
Highlighting that Nagas were divided without their knowledge into two countries (India and Myanmar) and between four states in India, he expressed concern that they would be divided further if the physical construction of the international border fence was allowed.
“Pangsha village is an Indian-Naga village where its traditional and ancient cultivable land along with huge tracks of virgin forest belonging to Pangsha village have been arbitrarily demarcated and put on the Myanmar side by the so called imaginary boundary line and border pillar,” stated medical minister P Longon, the elected member of the area.
He opined that construction of border fence today in Pangsha was a direct violation of Article 371A since both the Governments of India and Myanmar have failed to consult and take on board the legitimate landowners in this regard, as land and its resources belong to the landowners of the Nagas of Nagaland as far as the provision of Article 371A is concerned.
Highlighting the consequences of the “gross-territorial misdeed” which has adversely affected the Naga people along the border including their livelihood, he maintained that the 39 numbers of skeletal iron pillar erected by the Myanmar authorities at present must be removed immediately through proper channel.
He also pointed out that it is the legitimate political and constitutional duty of the Government of India and the State government of Nagaland to protect the concern of the people and its territory. Any initiative and venture in this regard, he expressed, must be trilateral in the context of Nagaland state under the provisional privilege of Article 371A. He also suggested that NLA pass a resolution to affect permanent stoppage of border fence construction in any parts of Nagaland along Indo-Myanmar international border.
MLA P Pohwang Konyak also pointed out that while the construction of the border fence was suspended for now, it was not known for how long it would be suspended. He remarked that in addition to the need to stop construction of fencing the international border, it is important to relay to both the Government of India and Myanmar about the history of the Nagas.
Parliamentary Secretary Levi Rengma also lamented the division of the Naga people through the creation of invisible borders. He opined that construction of a physical fence between the people would adversely affect the social structure of the Nagas and asserted that such construction should not be allowed to come up.
Also participating in the debate, minister CL John advocated that the international border must be kept as ‘imaginary line.’ Being a minister from the border himself, John explained the repercussions that would arise if a community was forcibly divided by fences.
“The government of the day should see in future that such border fence do not take place especially in areas like Phek, Kiphire, Tuensang and Mon districts... when the imaginary boundary lines itself has divided the Nagas thoroughly. I cannot imagine what will be the fate of the Nagas if these boundary lines are built on such imaginary line. The government of India should not think of creating another North Korea and South Korea in our country,” said MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu.
