Abrogating FMR will inflame Indo-Naga political issue, says FGN

DIMAPUR: The Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) has expressed serious concern over the approach taken by the Government of India (GoI) regarding the annulment of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border.

“This strategy perpetuates the legacy of colonial-era cartographic endeavors, reflecting a deeper issue in how territorial boundaries are conceptualized and implemented. Historically, the creation of maps/borders was influenced by the colonial British administration, which often resulted in vague and imprecise delineations of territory,” stated P. Puthai Lam, Killo Kilonser, NNC/FGN (Brig Retd S Singnya group) in a press release.

It stated that the Indo-Myanmar border, characterized by its arbitrary demarcation, was established by British colonial administrators and subsequently endorsed by the post-colonial states of India and Burma as a component of their territorial frameworks.

The construction of border fencing transcends the establishment of physical barriers; it threatens to create divisions that extend into the social, economic, and cultural domains. Masquerading to enhance security and regulatory oversight, the discarding of FMR fences will disrupt long-standing communal ties, impede economic interactions, and restrict the free movement of the Naga people, ultimately fostering a climate of disillusionment and resentment, the FGN further stated.

Pointing out that the Naga communities perceive this border as an artificial construct—an imaginary line created over seven decades ago—without any consultation or consent from the inhabitants, the FGN said such an act/policy to fence the border will further aggravate the Indo-Naga Political conflict and hinder the ongoing Political Dialogues with the GoI.

It stated that for the Nagas, the land represents an inherent birthright, and steadfast commitment to safeguarding ancestral territories remains unwavering, regardless of the implications posed by the border fence, which risks exacerbating existing tensions that can easily turn the border red.  The FGN therefore condemned the intentions of the GoI to further fragment the Naga community and undermine the Naga political aspirations.

“The Naga people will continue to preserve and uphold the integrity and sovereignty of the ancestral lands. The Naga future, characterized by a constant pursuit of self-determination, cannot be dictated by external forces or diplomatic interventions. Our commitment to historical autonomy remains resolute, and we resist any imposition that seeks to subvert our indelible right to live as a nation,” it stated.