WC-NNPGs Urge GoI to Honor Agreed Position on Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 28 (MExN): The Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPGs) has firmly opposed the Indian government’s recent proposal to fence the entire Indo-Myanmar border. Nagaland, which shares 215 km of the 1,643-km-long international boundary along the northeastern states, would be significantly affected by this move.
In a press statement, the WC-NNPGs highlighted that their agreement with the Government of India, encapsulated in a status paper, should not be altered unilaterally. The agreement calls for amending the Indian Passport Act to reflect Naga identity and extending the Free Movement Regime (FMR) up to 35 miles for indigenous Nagas across the border.
The committee emphasized the unique situation of the Angh (Chief) of Longwa village in Mon district, whose home lies across both India and Myanmar, showcasing the historical division of Naga ancestral lands. The proposed fencing would displace indigenous Nagas and threaten their livelihoods, it warned.
According to the WC-NNPGs, enforcing the border fence would violate the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and wrongly penalize Nagas for issues arising in other border regions. They reiterated their demand for an extended FMR as a fundamental right and underscored the importance of the Agreed Position in safeguarding Naga interests.
“An inalienable part of Naga history, culture, and tradition dwells in Naga land under Myanmar. Erecting a boundary wall in our ancestral land will have serious ramifications,” the statement read, calling on the GoI to announce an early political solution.
The WC-NNPGs stressed that the Agreed Position, negotiated from November 17, 2017, to October 31, 2019, is a historical document backed by Naga Tribes, Village headmen, and civil societies, and urged the Indian political leadership to address the issue promptly and find a sustainable political solution.
Original Story https://www.morungexpress.com/agreed-position-not-a-vague-signed-paper
Category : Nagaland
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