The United Naga Council (UNC) has reiterated its strong opposition to the India-Myanmar border fencing, instructing its units to take "strict measures" to halt the project in their regions. A directive issued on January 27, 2025, urges the Naga population, particularly those under the Chandel Naga People’s Organisation (CNPO), to comply with the order and prevent any actions related to the fencing.
Reports indicate that before this directive, a resolution opposing the fencing project was passed during the UNC Presidential Council meeting on November 7 of the previous year. UNC President Ng. Lorho described the border fencing project as a "sinister design" by the Indian government to sever the Naga people from their ancestral lands by imposing artificial borders.
UNC Labels Fencing as a Violation of Naga Sovereignty
The UNC has directed its subordinate bodies and local units in the affected regions to take decisive action to halt the fencing project within their jurisdictions. The council also issued a warning to individuals and organizations against collaborating with the agencies involved in the fencing, stating that non-compliance would result in serious consequences according to the council's resolution. Calling on the Naga community in Manipur to stay alert and united in opposing the project, the council condemned the fencing as an infringement on 'Naga sovereignty' and identity. Additionally, the council urged the Naga people to be ready for 'any eventualities' in their struggle to safeguard their land and heritage.
MZP Sends Letter to Union Home Minister Opposing the Fencing
The Indo-Myanmar border fencing project has encountered strong opposition from the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), a student organization in Mizoram. The MZP sent a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah through Governor VK Singh, urging the government to reconsider its decision to construct a fence along the Indo-Myanmar border and to modify the existing Free Movement Regime (FMR) in place. The MZP emphasized that the FMR has been instrumental in preserving and promoting the Mizo way of life and in maintaining the cultural connections between the ethnic Mizos of both countries. It has enabled cross-border interactions, economic exchanges, sharing of resources, and joint 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.
Referencing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) from 2007, the MZP emphasized that India, as a signatory, is obligated by Article 36 of the UNDRIP, which upholds the right of Indigenous peoples to establish and maintain 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.
Meitei Community of Manipur Supports Fencing
After facing opposition from the UNC and the MZP, Lt. Gen. Raghu Srinivasan, Director-General of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), met with Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Imphal Raj Bhavan to provide an update on the Indo-Myanmar border fencing project. While the Kuki-Zo and Naga groups have opposed the project, the Meitei community in Manipur has expressed support, citing concerns over the ongoing ethnic conflict in the state due to infiltration and narco-terrorism from Myanmar.
What is the FMR?
The India-Myanmar border spans four Indian states: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram. The Indian government has decided to revise the existing Free Movement Regime (FMR) along this border. The FMR, which was introduced in 1968, was based on the shared cultural and ethnic ties between communities on both sides of the India-Myanmar border. Initially, the free movement area extended up to 40 km, which was later reduced to 16 km in 2004. Additional regulations were enforced in 2016.
On February 6th of last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced plans to construct a fence along the 1,643 km-long India-Myanmar border. Just two days later, on February 8th, Shah also declared the suspension of the FMR agreement with Myanmar, citing internal security concerns and the need to protect the demographic integrity of the Northeast states. This move was met with opposition in the Mizoram and Nagaland Assemblies, which passed resolutions against it on March 28th and March 1st, respectively.
In December 2024, the Centre reportedly issued new guidelines clarifying that the FMR had not been entirely abolished. Instead, stricter regulations have been implemented, reducing the free movement area from 16 km to 10 km. Specific border-crossing points will now be established, and border passes will be required for cross-border movement.
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