Reiterating its strong opposition to the India-Myanmar border fencing, the United Naga Council (UNC) directed its units to ‘initiate stringent steps’ to stop the project in their areas. The UNC reportedly issued a directive on January 27, 2025, asking the Naga population, particularly those under the jurisdiction of the Chandel Naga People’s Organisation (CNPO), to abide by the directive and stop any activities related to the fencing project.
As per reports, preceding the recent directive, a resolution was passed during the UNC Presidential Council meeting on 7th November last year opposing the proposed fencing project on the Indo-Myanmar border. The UNC President Ng. Lorho termed the Indo-Myanmar border fencing project as a ‘sinister design’ by the government of India to alienate the Naga people from their ancestral lands by imposing artificial boundaries.
The UNC terms fencing as encroachment on Naga sovereignty
The UNC has instructed its subordinate bodies and local units in the affected areas to take strong steps to stop the fencing project in their respective jurisdictions. The council also issued a warning to individuals and organisations against cooperating with the agencies in fencing stating that non-compliance would attract serious consequences as per the council resolution. Urging the Naga community in Manipur to remain vigilant and united in resisting the project, the council described the fencing project as an encroachment on ‘Naga sovereignty’ and identity. The council further urged the Naga people to be prepared for ‘any eventualities’ in their fight to protect their land and heritage.
MZP writes to the Union Home Minister opposing the fencing
The Indo-Mynamar border fencing project also faces strong opposition from the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), a student body in Mirzoram. The MZP sent a letter to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah through Governor VK Singh, urging the Centre to reconsider its decision to set up a fence along the Indo-Myanmar border and alter the existing Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the border. The MZP said that the FMR had played a pivotal role in preserving and fostering the Mizo way of life and the cultural ties between the ethnic Mizos of the Itwo countries by facilitating cross-border contact, economic activities, sharing of resources and mutual participation in cultural, religious and community events.
“The proposed termination of the FMR and the fencing of the Indo-Manmar border threaten to sever these bonds, depriving us of our cultural rights and access to essential resources. The decision disregards the geographical, historical, and economic interconnectedness of our communities, which have long transacted political boundaries”, the letter read. “Such actions would not only infringe the rights of Indigenous communities but also jeopardise the cultural and economic fabric of our lives,” it added.
Evoking the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), 2007, the MZP highlighted that India is a signatory to it and therefore is bound by Article 36 of the UNDRIP which affirms the right of Indigenous people to maintain and develop cross-border relations. “It is disheartening to witness the world’s largest democracy act contrary to this principle, undermining the rights of its Indigenous people”, it said.
Manipur Meitei community supports fencing
Following the opposition by the UNC and the MZP, Lt. Gen. Raghu Srinivasan, Director-General of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), called on Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Imphal Raj Bhavan to give him a brief on the Indo-Myanmar border fencing work. While the Kuki-Zo and Naga organisations oppose the fencing project, the Meitei community in Manipur has supported the fencing attributing the ongoing ethnic conflict in the state to infiltration and narco-terrorism from Myanmar.
What is the FMR
The India-Myanmar border touches four Indian states – Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. The Indian government has decided to change the existing Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the India-Mynanmar border. The FMR was adopted in 1968 considering that the communities on either side of the Ido-Myanmar border shared familiar and ethnic ties. Initially, the territorial limit of free movement was 40 km which was reduced to 16 km in 2004. Some additional regulations were enforced in 2016.
Last year on 6th February, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the decision to set up a fence along the 1,643 lm long India-Myanmar border. On 8th February, Shah announced the decision to suspend the FMR agreement with Myanmar in the interest of internal security and preserving the demography of the Northeast states. The decision was opposed in the Mizoram and the Nagaland Assemblies which adopted resolutions against the decision on 28th March and 1st March last year respectively.
In December 2024, new guidelines were reportedly issued by the Centre indicating the FMR had not been entirely scrapped instead, stricter regulations have been put in place reducing the range of the FMR from 16km to 10 km. Specific border-crossing points were to be set up along the border and border passes were to be issued for cross-border movement.
