SUNDAY, JUNE 08, 2025
Voices from Longwa: Why Villagers Oppose the India-Myanmar Border Fence
Published on Mar 30, 2025
By EMN
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- Longwa village, located in the easternmost part of Nagaland, has existed since the 16th century. For centuries, its people have lived as one community, identifying themselves as Konyak Nagas rather than belonging to any single country. However, in the 20th century, the boundary between India and Myanmar was officially drawn, cutting through the middle of Longwa. The village was suddenly divided between two nations, even though the people continued to live as they always had. No physical fence was built, allowing them to move freely between both sides. Longwa became unique because of this unusual division, attracting visitors who were fascinated by a village that exists in two countries at the same time. The most well-known example of this is the Angh’s (King’s) house, which is built across the border. People often say that the Angh eats in India and sleeps in Myanmar. Despite this division, the villagers have continued to live peacefully, maintaining their cultural ties and relationships with those on both sides of the border.
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- However, this way of life is now facing a challenge. On January 20th 2024, India’s Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, announced that the government would begin constructing a fence along the India-Myanmar border. This also includes ending the Free Movement Regime (FMR), which currently allows people living in border areas to travel freely between the two countries. The government claims that the fence is necessary to stop illegal activities such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and human trafficking.
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- For the people of Longwa, especially the village elders, this decision is deeply concerning. Many of their lands, farms, and homes lie on both sides of the border. If a fence is built, they say it will mean losing access to their own lands, where their ancestors have lived and worked for generations. Many elders express that their identity is tied to their land, not to artificial borders drawn by outsiders. They question how they are expected to abandon their fields, properties, and even family members who may end up on the other side of the fence.
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- The elders also emphasise that Longwa has always had its own ways of maintaining order and protecting its people. They have community resolutions against drug trafficking and illegal immigration, and they strongly believe in keeping their village free from such activities. They feel that instead of fencing them off, there should be better ways to address these concerns without dividing families and taking away their rights to their ancestral lands.
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- At the same time, some elders acknowledge the issue of insurgency and understand the government's concerns. However, they argue that the impact of the fence on their daily lives will be far greater than the security risks the government is trying to address. They believe that the biggest threat to their people is not insurgency, but the possibility of being cut off from their own history, culture, and way of life.
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- As the government proceeds with its plan to fence the border, the elders of Longwa continue to voice their concerns, warning that this decision will change their lives forever. For them, this is not just about security, but about preserving their identity, their land, and the unity they have maintained for centuries.
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- Lunglei Rokam, BA 6th Semester
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- Education Department
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- Modern College, Piphema
Nagaland Districts
