KTC oppose GoI’s decision to scrap FMR and fence border
NOKLAK, FEBRUARY 3 (MExN): The Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC)has protested against the decision of the Government of India (GoI) to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and to construct fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border.
In a press statement, the KTC stated that the “emergence of arbitrary imaginary line demarcating their land from BP 139 Thongsonyu to BP146 ITC (DAN) Pangsha was neither consented nor accepted in either ways by the people of Khiamniungan.”
Asserting that India & Myanmar are living on Khiamniungan land, the KTC said the oneness, peaceful co-existence and mutual respect of their social, cultural ties and brotherhood of generations should not be jeopardized by restriction of free movement and physical barriers.
“The Khiamniungans are living under one flag, motto & emblem irrespective of the artificial Indo-Myanmar border and never ever lived as divided tribe since time immemorial,” it maintained.
Meanwhile, the KTC asked the GoI not to make comparison with the Manipur issue, since the Khiamniungan people, being a peace loving tribe,have been safeguardingboth sides of the border from anti-elements trying to create the problem in the region. It also termed the pretext of erecting physical barriers to control smuggling of illegal substances as unjustified.
Also highlighting that there many in their community holding land on both sides of the border, the KTC apprehended that erecting fencing will impact their daily activities, which is predominantly agriculture,since it would mean losing major chunks of their traditionally owned jhum land and fields if ‘zero line’ comes into reality. It elaborated that theKhiamniungan Naga has 46 villages under India and more than 182 villages under Myanmar.
Towards this, the KTC has strongly appealed the GoI and the Nagaland Government to expedite the infrastructure and developmental programmes at the designated International Trade Centre (ITC) DAN, Pangsha and realize the Act East Policy instead of applying the policy of dividing social, cultural ties and brotherhood amongst own Naga citizens.
The KTC said it would stand in opposition if the GoI go ahead with the scrapping of FMR and construct fencing along the border.
