Back public rally on February 12
Newmai News Network
Senapati | February 11
The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has taken strong exception to what it termed as the ongoing "imposed construction" of border fencing along the “imaginary” Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB) in the Naga homeland.
This is being undertaken despite of persistent opposition against such action by various Nagas mass based civil organisations, it stated.
Accordingly, during its first new office bearers' meeting for the tenure 2024-2026 held today, the Naga student body reiterated that “come what may," it would oppose the "coercive move" of the Government of India (GoI).
In a statement, the ANSAM called the move an arbitrary action causing series of problems and “disrupting the traditional ties of people who are living straddled on both sides of the border since time immemorial.”
“It is nothing less than dehumanising in nature,” it asserted, adding that over and above the human crisis, it is also bound to have a severe impact on the biodiversity and ecosystem.
Stating that it represents the voice of Naga students and youth in Manipur, ANSAM, thus, declared that the permanent sealing of the border and the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) are highly “unacceptable and uncalled for,” and cautioned that such measures would trigger an “unprecedented human crisis” rather than resolving any issue.
Constructing physical fencing along the said "imaginary border" by negating the historical and traditional boundaries would cause huge ramification and is quite an illogical move on the part of the GoI, it further contended.
If the government is truly serious about addressing the unfolding situation in the state and curbing its impact, it should consider mechanisms such as updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC), constituting a Population Commission, and strictly implementing the Inner Line Permit (ILP), among others, ANSAM suggested.
It further urged the GoI to “sincerely engage” on the table to resolve the "protracted Indo-Naga political issue" by maintaining that it would “serve as a permanent solution” to various problems and usher in peace in the North-East India.
In this regard, ANSAM expressed its strong support and solidarity with the coordinated public rally scheduled to be organised by the Chandel Naga People's Organisation (CNPO) in Tengnoupal and Machi sub-divisions as well as Chandel district headquarters on February 12 against the issue.
The ANSAM also ‘earnestly implored’ the GoI reinstate the FMR and immediately stop the ongoing construction of border fencing in the Naga homeland to avert any “civil unrest.”
